Patents Assigned to Technologies Holdings Corp.
  • Portable heating system and method for pest control
    Patent number: 9578867
    Abstract: A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure comprises a heat pump unit placed within an affected area and a thermostatic control. The heat pump unit is configured to receive a flow of water from a faucet, and generate heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water, the heated air being emitted into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermostatic control is configured to monitor a temperature of a flow of water as it is received by the heat pump, monitor a temperature of air, and automatically cease operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy S. O'Brien, Eric P. Camenga
  • Vapor compression dehumidifier
    Patent number: 9581345
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow. The inlet airflow comprises a process airflow and a bypass airflow. An evaporator unit receives a flow of refrigerant and is cools the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to the flow of refrigerant. A condenser unit receives the flow of refrigerant and (1) reheats the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow, and (2) heats the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow. The process airflow is discharged via a process airflow outlet and the bypass airflow is discharged via a bypass airflow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Steven S. Dingle, Marco A. Tejeda, Timothy S. O'Brien, Todd R. DeMonte, Vincent Yu
  • Double-Gripper For the Application of Teat Cups to an Animal to be Milked, Rinse Cup for this and Milking Machine Provided Therewith, and a Method for Milking
    Publication number: 20170049068
    Abstract: This invention is related to a double grab, its rinsing cup and milking machine provided therewith, and the method for automatically applying teat cups to the teats of an udder of an animal to be milked. The double grab according to the invention includes: —a first housing part provided with a first magnet designed to hold a first teat cup; —a second housing part, installed substantially in a horizontal plane next to the first housing part, provided with a second magnet designed to hold a second teat cup; —whereby each housing part is provided with separate pivoting means that can be activated and is designed to make the related housing part pivot around a pivoting axis which in use, extends substantially in a horizontal direction, substantially in a widthwise direction of the arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Hendrik Hofman, Peter van der Sluis
  • Efficient drying fan
    Patent number: 9562542
    Abstract: A drying fan has a shroud with a shape selected to improve fan efficiency by designated fluid dynamics of air flow through the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Gehring
  • Automated system for applying disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9560832
    Abstract: A method for operating a robotic arm comprises determining a speed of rotation of a rotary milking platform, the rotary milking platform having a stall for a dairy livestock. The method further includes moving a carriage along a track positioned adjacent to the rotary milking platform at a rate that is based at least in part upon the determined speed of rotation of the rotary milking platform. The method further includes extending a robotic arm that is coupled to the carriage between the legs of the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Automated system for applying disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9549531
    Abstract: A spray tool coupled to a robotic arm includes a linear member, a first spray nozzle and a second spray nozzle. The linear member rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the robotic arm. The linear member has a perimeter that lies within an outer perimeter of the robotic arm when the robotic arm extends between the legs of a dairy livestock. The first spray nozzle is coupled to the linear member proximate a first end of the linear member. The second spray nozzle is coupled to the linear member proximate a second end of the linear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Robotic attacher and method of operation
    Patent number: 9549529
    Abstract: A robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to the supplemental arm. The gripping portion is operable to rotate such that at a first time, a nozzle is positioned generally on the bottom of the gripping portion, and at a second time, the nozzle is positioned generally on the top of the gripping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Gripper for Arranging Teat Cups on an Animal for Milking, Robot Arm and Milking Machine Provided Therewith, and Method Therefor
    Publication number: 20170000074
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gripper (2), robot arm (4) and milking machine provided therewith, and method for arranging teat cups (6, 8) in automatic manner on teats of an udder of an animal for milking. The gripper according to the invention comprises: —a fixation part (10, 12) for holding at least one teat cup; and—transport means (14, 16) for positioning the teat cup in the gripper relative to the at least one fixation part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.
    Inventors: Raymond Roger Berghuis, Henk Hofman
  • Vision system for facilitating the automated application of disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9516854
    Abstract: A method for determining a spray position for a spray tool includes accessing an image signal generated by a camera, the image signal corresponding to at least an udder of a dairy livestock. The method further includes processing the accessed image signal to determine a tangent to the rear and a tangent to the bottom of the udder of the dairy livestock. The method concludes by determining a spray position from which a spray tool may apply disinfectant to the teats of the dairy livestock, wherein the spray position is a position relative to the intersection of the two tangents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • System and method for improved attachment of a cup to a dairy animal
    Patent number: 9510554
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a milking cup, a pulsating device coupled to the milking cup, a robotic arm comprising a gripper, and a controller communicatively coupled to the robotic arm and the pulsating device. The controller is operable to instruct the gripper of the robotic arm to grip the milking cup, instruct the robotic arm to move the milking cup proximate to a teat of a dairy livestock, and instruct the robotic arm to move the milking cup towards the teat. The controller is further operable to instruct the pulsating device to apply pressure to the milking cup before attaching the milking cup to the teat and instruct the gripper of the robotic arm to release the milking cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Teatcup liner series with varying mouthpiece flexibility
    Patent number: 9510555
    Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove formed in an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece. An inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece defines a cavity bore and the groove is located substantially in line with the largest diameter of the cavity bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Mofazzal H. Chowdhury
  • Milking system shut-off and sensors
    Patent number: 9504225
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving a flow of milk at an inlet of a manifold. The inlet comprises a first end coupled to a hose that receives a flow of milk from a teat cup and a second end terminating in a chamber of the manifold. The manifold comprises one or more other inlets and a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets includes one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drain outlets. The method proceeds by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding milk collector outlet by causing a shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to open, and by causing a drain valve corresponding to the inlet to close. The method concludes by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding drain outlet by causing the drain valve corresponding to the inlet to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Milking box with robotic attacher
    Patent number: 9504224
    Abstract: A robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to the supplemental arm. The gripping portion comprises at least one nozzle and is operable to rotate such that during a first time, the nozzle is positioned away from the top of the gripping portion, and during a second time, the nozzle is positioned generally on the top of the gripping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Milking box with robotic attacher comprising an arm that pivots, rotates, and grips
    Patent number: 9491924
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a milking box having a stall to accommodate a dairy livestock and a robotic attacher. The robotic attacher comprises a main arm that is suspended vertically from a rail of the milking box, and a supplemental arm that is coupled to and extends horizontally from the main arm along a longitudinal axis. The supplemental arm comprises a pivot assembly that pivots a gripping portion around a vertical axis that is substantially parallel to the main arm of the robotic attacher, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the supplemental arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • System and method of attaching cups to a dairy animal
    Patent number: 9485955
    Abstract: A robotic attacher retrieves a preparation cup from the right side of an equipment area located behind a dairy livestock and attaches and detaches the preparation cup to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching and detaching the preparation cup to the left front teat, the right front teat, the right rear teat, and the left rear teat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • System and method of attaching a cup to a dairy animal according to a sequence
    Patent number: 9480236
    Abstract: A system includes a milking box and a robotic arm. The milking box comprises a stall portion that houses a dairy livestock with four teats. The robotic arm performs the following operation for a plurality of teats of the dairy livestock: retrieves a cup; attaches the cup to a teat; and detaches the cup from the teat. The cup is maintained within the stall portion of the milking box from the time that the cup is attached to a first teat of the dairy livestock through the time that the cup is attached to a last teat of the dairy livestock. The cup is retracted into an equipment area of the milking box after it is detached from the last teat of the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Vision system for facilitating the automated application of disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9480238
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a tangent to the rear of an udder of a dairy livestock, and determining a tangent to the bottom of the udder of the dairy livestock. The method continues by determining a position relative to the intersection of the two tangents, and extending a robot arm to the determined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Cleaning Device for Cleaning Teats of an Animal for Milking, Milking Machine Provided Therewith and Method Therefor
    Publication number: 20160309674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning device (4) for cleaning and pretreating teats of an animal for milking, milking machine (2) provided therewith and method therefor. The cleaning device according to the invention comprises: • a frame (52) provided with an arm (6); • a cleaning head arranged on the arm and provided with a rotatable holder (12) on which one or more rotatable cleaning elements (14) are provided; and • moving means (48, 50, 56) connected to the frame for displacing the cleaning head relative to the teats such that the teats are cleanable using the cleaning elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp/
    Inventor: Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Automated system for applying disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9474248
    Abstract: A system for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock includes a carriage mounted on a track, the carriage operable to translate laterally along the track. The system further includes a robotic arm including a first member pivotally attached to the carriage, a second member pivotally attached to the first member and a spray tool member pivotally attached to the second member. The robotic arm further includes a spray tool attached to the spray tool member. The system further includes a controller operable to cause at least a portion of the robotic arm to extend between the hind legs of a dairy livestock such that the spray tool may discharge a disinfectant to the teats of the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Milking box with robotic attacher
    Patent number: 9474246
    Abstract: A system comprises a milking box, a robotic attacher, a sensor, and a controller. The milking box has a stall to accommodate a dairy livestock. The stall comprises a first exit gate on a first side of the stall leading to a first sorting region and a second exit gate on a second side of the stall leading to a second sorting region. The robotic attacher extends from the rear between the hind legs of the dairy livestock, move in at least one direction along the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, and attach milking equipment to the dairy livestock. The sensor identifies the dairy livestock within the milking box stall. The controller selects and opens the first exit gate or the second exit gate based at least in part upon the identity of the dairy livestock in order to direct the first dairy livestock into either the first sorting region or the second sorting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma