Patents Assigned to APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Patent number: 11913273
    Abstract: Motorized door assemblies having a door pivoting about a pivot axis extending across opposing jambs. In one aspect, the assembly includes a motor assembly having a motor, drive gears, slip clutch, and driven shaft connected to the door to pivot it about the pivot axis. The slip clutch includes a clutch plate slideable along the driven shaft, a drive plate driven by the motor via the drive gears, and a clutch spring urging the clutch plate into engagement with the drive plate, where the clutch and drive plates have profiled and counter-profiled faces. In another aspect, a break beam emitter and receiver are mounted to respective ones of the opposing jambs along a beam axis extending parallel to the pivot axis and proximate to an edge of the door opposite the pivot axis. Interruption of a light beam projected therebetween alters operation of a motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Craig Whitaker, Edward Leonard Weaver, II, Scott A. Zieker, Charles Eldon Warner, Ronald G. Knollman
  • Patent number: 11665022
    Abstract: A system for automatically assigning sequential identification values to networked nodes, such as accessory modules within a storage and dispensing enclosure. The system includes a host controller communicating with client controllers via both a shared, multi-drop communications bus and an initial segment of a daisy-chained, point-to-point communications bus. The host controller issues a token to a first client controller via the point-to-point bus, then queries the client controllers, receives a reply from the client controller having the token (associating that controller with a sequential identification value), and commands passing of the token, each via the multi-drop bus. The client controllers receive the token and query via the respective busses and, if that controller has the token, reply to the query via the multi-drop bus, as well as receive the command and, if that controller has the token, pass the token via the point-to-point bus to a subsequent controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hentz, James M. Allen
  • Patent number: 11636459
    Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomously dispensing items. A dispensing system receives a first distributed ledger transaction that: i) identifies an item, ii) identifies a container associated with and containing the item, iii) includes a status indicator in a first state identifying the item as present in the container, and iv) includes an authorization code associated with a mobile device. The authorization code is received from the mobile device. The dispensing system creates a second distributed ledger transaction based on the first distributed ledger transaction that changes the status indicator to a second state identifying the item as authorized for dispensing. Responsive to the creation of the second distributed ledger transaction, access is autonomously provided to the item. The dispensing system creates a third distributed ledger transaction based on the second distributed ledger transaction that changes the status indicator to a third state identifying the item as dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Edward A. Fullman, Benjamin V. Savage, Saurabh Sarkar, Dave Doster, George Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20220393906
    Abstract: A system for automatically assigning sequential identification values to networked nodes, such as accessory modules within a storage and dispensing enclosure. The system includes a host controller communicating with client controllers via both a shared, multi-drop communications bus and an initial segment of a daisy-chained, point-to-point communications bus. The host controller issues a token to a first client controller via the point-to-point bus, then queries the client controllers, receives a reply from the client controller having the token (associating that controller with a sequential identification value), and commands passing of the token, each via the multi-drop bus. The client controllers receive the token and query via the respective busses and, if that controller has the token, reply to the query via the multi-drop bus, as well as receive the command and, if that controller has the token, pass the token via the point-to-point bus to a subsequent controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P. HENTZ, James M. ALLEN
  • Patent number: 11488432
    Abstract: An access and storage system including a generally enclosed storage compartment configured to be positioned on a ground surface such that a wheeled conveyance device carrying an item to be transferred is rollable directly into the storage compartment. The system includes a sensor system configured to track at least one of a placement, removal, presence or absence of the item or the wheeled conveyance relative to the storage compartment, and an access control system configured to control access to the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin V. Savage, Kent V. Savage
  • Patent number: 11418365
    Abstract: A system for automatically assigning sequential identification values to networked nodes, such as accessory modules within a storage and dispensing enclosure. The system includes a host controller communicating with client controllers via both a shared, multi-drop communications bus and an initial segment of a daisy-chained, point-to-point communications bus. The host controller issues a token to a first client controller via the point-to-point bus, then queries the client controllers, receives a reply from the client controller having the token (associating that controller with a sequential identification value), and commands passing of the token, each via the multi-drop bus. The client controllers receive the token and query via the respective busses and, if that controller has the token, reply to the query via the multi-drop bus, as well as receive the command and, if that controller has the token, pass the token via the point-to-point bus to a subsequent controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hentz, James M. Allen
  • Patent number: 11260524
    Abstract: An access and storage system including a storage component configured to store items therein or thereon in an associated storage position, wherein the storage component is configured to provide a user direct manual access to the items in the storage positions. The system further includes a sensor system configured to track at least one of the user's removal of an item from the associated storage position or replacement of an item to the associated storage position and an identification system for identifying the user. The system also has an authorization database operatively coupled to the identification system for tracking which of the items a particular identified user is authorized to access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Kent V. Savage, Benjamin V. Savage
  • Publication number: 20220009078
    Abstract: An access and storage system including a storage component configured to store items therein or thereon in an associated storage position, wherein the storage component is configured to provide a user direct manual access to the items in the storage positions. The system further includes a sensor system configured to track at least one of the user's removal of an item from the associated storage position or replacement of an item to the associated storage position and an identification system for identifying the user. The system also has an authorization database operatively coupled to the identification system for tracking which of the items a particular identified user is authorized to access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: Apex Industrial Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kent V. Savage, Benjamin V. Savage
  • Publication number: 20210299849
    Abstract: An access and storage system including a storage component configured to store items therein or thereon in an associated storage position, wherein the storage component is configured to provide a user direct manual access to the items in the storage positions. The system further includes a sensor system configured to track at least one of the user's removal of an item from the associated storage position or replacement of an item to the associated storage position and an identification system for identifying the user. The system also has an authorization database operatively coupled to the identification system for tracking which of the items a particular identified user is authorized to access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Apex Industrial Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kent V. Savage, Benjamin V. Savage
  • Patent number: 10858878
    Abstract: A door assembly system including a door assembly frame and a plurality of doors, each door being movably coupled to the door assembly frame. The system further includes an electrically activatable component coupled to the door assembly frame and operatively coupled to at least one door to selectively lock or unlock the at least one door. The door assembly frame is configured to be removably attached to a storage device frame having a plurality of compartments such that each door covers one of the compartments. The electrically activatable component is configured to be operatively connected to a controller coupled to the storage device frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Kent V. Savage, Benjamin V. Savage
  • Publication number: 20200226544
    Abstract: A dispensing system including a sensor configured to identify a position of an item on a surface of a component, a controller operatively coupled to the sensor, and a display device operatively coupled to the controller. The display device is configured to dynamically display information relating to the item. The display device is configured to display the information at a location physically associated with the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Apex Industrial Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin V. SAVAGE, Edward A. FULLMAN, Saurabh SARKAR, Christopher M. HODAPP, Richard Mathias ALDEN
  • Publication number: 20200074440
    Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomously dispensing items. A dispensing system receives a first distributed ledger transaction that: i) identifies an item, ii) identifies a container associated with and containing the item, iii) includes a status indicator in a first state identifying the item as present in the container, and iv) includes an authorization code associated with a mobile device. The authorization code is received from the mobile device. The dispensing system creates a second distributed ledger transaction based on the first distributed ledger transaction that changes the status indicator to a second state identifying the item as authorized for dispensing. Responsive to the creation of the second distributed ledger transaction, access is autonomously provided to the item. The dispensing system creates a third distributed ledger transaction based on the second distributed ledger transaction that changes the status indicator to a third state identifying the item as dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Apex Industrial Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Edward A. Fullman, Benjamin V. Savage, Saurabh Sarkar, Dave Doster, George Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200003000
    Abstract: A door assembly system including a door assembly frame and a plurality of doors, each door being movably coupled to the door assembly frame. The system further includes an electrically activatable component coupled to the door assembly frame and operatively coupled to at least one door to selectively lock or unlock the at least one door. The door assembly frame is configured to be removably attached to a storage device frame having a plurality of compartments such that each door covers one of the compartments. The electrically activatable component is configured to be operatively connected to a controller coupled to the storage device frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Apex Industrial Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kent V. Savage, Benjamin V. Savage
  • Patent number: 10435937
    Abstract: A storage and dispensing system including a frame defining a plurality of compartments and a door assembly including a plurality of doors. Each door is sized to generally correspond to one of the compartments of the frame to selectively provide access thereto, and the door assembly is removably coupled to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Kent V. Savage, Benjamin V. Savage
  • Patent number: D867795
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Robert Charles Best, Andrew Hong-jae Yim, Benjamin V. Savage
  • Patent number: D901215
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Eric Starling, Robert Charles Best, Matthew D. Bell
  • Patent number: D906004
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Hong-Jae Yim, Robert Charles Best
  • Patent number: D906005
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bell, Mariah A. Combs, Robert Charles Best
  • Patent number: D906025
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bell, Mariah A. Combs, Robert Charles Best
  • Patent number: D945802
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bell, Mariah A. Combs, Robert Charles Best