Patents Examined by Alexander Valvis
  • Patent number: 10458400
    Abstract: A system for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising a transmission control having a visual indicator and coupled to a transmission of the truck, a pump control having a visual indicator and coupled to the pump, a prime control having a visual indicator and coupled to a prime pump, a master system control switch operable to receive operator input, and a main controller in data communication with the transmission control, pump control, prime control, and the master system control switch, the main controller receiving an input from the master system control switch to initiate pump setup operation, and automatically transmitting alert signals to the visual indicators of the transmission control, pump control, and prime control to provide visual guidance to the operator in the proper sequence of steps to set up the pump for pumping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation
    Inventors: John E. McLoughlin, Neocles G. Athanasiades, Kiam Meng Toh
  • Patent number: 10279945
    Abstract: A stretch film dispensing apparatus gathers the stretch film into a string or rope for use in securing an object to a pallet for shipping. The stretch film can be converted into a string or rope by passing it through one or more of a hook, funnel, apparatus, set of gears, or the like to effect stretching and/or twisting of the film into a string or rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Packaging LLC
    Inventors: Timothy H. Nelson, Stephenson Nelson, John Parks
  • Patent number: 10266361
    Abstract: Disclosed is a web handling system that includes a spindle having a spindle magnetic coupling portion and a roll core configured for receiving the spindle for mounting thereon and having a roll magnetic coupling portion, wherein the spindle and roll magnetic coupling portions are configured for magnetically attracting each other to hold the roll on the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: PREGIS INTELLIPACK LLC
    Inventors: George T. Bertram, Douglas Walker
  • Patent number: 10265065
    Abstract: A surgical staple and staple cartridge for removably storing the surgical staple. The surgical staple can comprise a plurality of separate and discrete staple drive surfaces. The staple drive surfaces can be configured to move along parallel paths in the staple cartridge. Additionally, the staple cartridge can comprise a staple cavity, and a plurality of lift planes can extend through the staple cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs, Charles J. Scheib, William D. Fox, Michael J. Stokes, John R. Dugan
  • Patent number: 10262114
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention may provide an efficient method of identifying unit doses of medication, and more specifically, to dispensing, identifying, packaging, and labeling unit doses of medication for distribution. In particular, methods may include receiving medication information, causing identifying information related to the medication information to be printed to a web of material, where the identifying information is printed at regular intervals, and preparing a medication unit dose to be dispensed to a container. Methods may further include verifying that the medication unit dose corresponds to the identifying information printed to the web of material, and joining the web of material to the container in response to the dispensed unit dose corresponding to the identifying information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Aesynt Incorporated
    Inventor: Patrick J. Braun
  • Patent number: 10244676
    Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural product application implement such as high clearance sprayer and/or spreader is provided that includes a product container that is sectioned. Emptying of the container sections is controlled to approximate a target front-to-back weight distribution of the implement for a substantially long period of time during a product application session. An outlet system having multiple variable outlet arrangements is arranged between the product container and an application arrangement such as a spray boom or a rotary broadcaster. The variable outlet arrangements are configured to allow the container sections to sequentially empty to maintain ballast provided by the store product at relatively later portions of the implement for a relatively longer period of time during the product application session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Martin L. Krohn, Kevin T. Bernier
  • Patent number: 10239643
    Abstract: A rigid holding container has a flexible cover sheet extending over the holding area for sealing the contents. The container has a wide, flat perimeter lip which provides a firm base for the seal between the cover sheet and the container. A breaching bubble is formed in the seal, under the cover and over the perimeter lip. The consumer breaches the bubble by pressing the bubble against the lip between the thumb and forefinger. The pressure compresses the air in the bubble causing the bubble to expand laterally. The expanding bubble breaches along the perimeter of the lip, producing a peel flap of flexible cover material. The consumer pulls the peel flap while holding the rigid container down, to remove the cover sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: PopPack LLC
    Inventors: William S. Perell, Leif B. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 10239645
    Abstract: Packaging material may be profiled to generate an incremental containment force per revolution (ICF) attribute that is represented by a function that is variable as a function of wrap force. Moreover, the performance of different packaging materials, e.g., in terms of speed or cost, may be compared for a particular load through simulation of wrap operations based upon dimensions of the load and a desired load containment force requirement for the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10235749
    Abstract: A method and system for forming a packaged product (100) and ensuring that the packaged product (100) is adequately filled. In one aspect, the method includes forming a product (101); introducing the product (101) into a package (103), thereby forming a packaged product (100); obtaining an x-ray image (201) of the packaged product (100); analyzing the x-ray image (201) utilizing a processor (118) to identify whether bounded contours (200) exist in the x-ray image (201) for each of the bounded contours (200), the processor (118) determining whether the bounded contour (200) is a threshold defect based at least in part on bounded area (208) of the bounded contour (200) for each of the threshold defects, the processor (118) classifying the threshold defect as one of a plurality of pre-determined defect types; and determining a source of at least one of the threshold defects in the packaged product (100) based at least in part on the classification of the at least one of the threshold defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Moses Alexander Magana
  • Patent number: 10227743
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus, program, and method for controlling the automatic spraying of an antifreezing agent that can reduce the cost of the antifreezing agent and the impact of salt damages caused by the antifreezing agent. This is accomplished by reducing the amount of antifreezing agent to be sprayed automatically according to road surface condition and reducing the amount of the antifreezing agent left unused on completion of the spray operation by grasping in advance the total spray amount of the antifreezing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuma Nakazawa, Yasumichi Wakao, Go Nagaya, Shinya Tsuchida, Yasushi Hanatsuka, Hiroshi Morinaga, Tomonori Ohiro
  • Patent number: 10226239
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and to surgical systems including handheld electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the handheld electromechanical surgical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Patent number: 10226776
    Abstract: An electrodischarge apparatus has a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water and an outlet. The apparatus has a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber that is electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors. A second electrode is proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes. A switch causes the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes from the nozzle ahead of the plasma bubble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Mohan Vijay
  • Patent number: 10220228
    Abstract: A fire suppression system for a plurality of enclosures in an aircraft comprises a plurality of bottles containing fire suppression agent, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor on each bottle for measuring temperature and pressure data of the bottle contents, an addressable bottle valve on each bottle and a control unit. The control unit is configured to analyze the temperature and pressure data for each bottle to determine adequacy of fire suppression agent content for extinguishing a fire in a particular enclosure of the aircraft. The control unit is further configured to control the bottle valves independently by using the bottle valves' addresses, in order to manage the release of fire suppression agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: KIDDE GRAVINER LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul A. Rennie, Josephine G. Gatsonides, Stuart M. Smith
  • Patent number: 10220398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new atomizing device with improved droplet formation. Smaller droplets are formed with increased micronized volume throughput, wherein high volumes of air are fed to a liquid sprayed from a liquid nozzle (2). High volume ratios result in mean free path between droplets being conveyed so as to minimize collisions and to prevent aggregation of the droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Omya International AG
    Inventors: George Saunders, Ryan Kittredge
  • Patent number: 10214404
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for automated capping and de-capping of test tubes (112) having an ejector pin (230) system for individualized cap (113) ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cedrex A/S
    Inventors: Stig Christensen, Lars Hovendahl, Michael Gabs Kaagaard Nielsen
  • Patent number: 10207133
    Abstract: A smart fluid application nozzle consisting of an optical based event locating system, a multi-port nozzle block, and a port switching mechanism is disclosed by the present application. The smart nozzle utilizes a unique arrangement of discharge ports, allowing the angle of the discharge agent to be controlled without moving the nozzle housing. Multiple ports are activated per event to create a uniform fluid distribution within the discharging jet while controlling the discharge angle, which cannot be achieved through a single port discharge. Upon receiving a detection signal, the event locating system determines the spatial location of the event region and activates the appropriate discharge ports, thereby directing agent toward the event zone and applying fluid while minimizing damage to nearby areas. The use of the system may be used wherever the precise directed application of as fluid is desired including, fire suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ESI Energy Solutions, LLC.
    Inventor: Peter Disimile
  • Patent number: 10196801
    Abstract: A flow regulator includes a housing portion, a diversion device, an annular seat and an elastic water stop ring. The annular seat, the diversion device and the housing portion are fixedly assembled together. The diversion device includes a periphery wall disposed with diversion holes, a central base within the periphery wall and a deflecting annular wall fixedly connecting the periphery wall and the central base. The external periphery surface of the deflecting annular wall is gradually larger downwardly from the central base to the periphery wall. The central base at least partly extends out of the internal hole of the annular seat. A water flow clearance is formed between the central base and the hole wall of the internal hole of the annular seat. The water flow clearance is disposed above the deflecting annular wall so that water flows out of the flowing clearance and onto the deflecting annular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feilong Huang, Guosong Zhao, Wenxing Chen
  • Patent number: 10195633
    Abstract: A liquid droplet production apparatus includes a perforate membrane, with liquid being supplied to one side of the membrane. An actuator for vibrating the membrane is provided. The vibration causes liquid droplets to be ejected from the other side of the membrane. Magnetic force is used to connect the actuator to the membrane so that the vibration can be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP PLC
    Inventors: Daniel Crichton, Robert Gordon Maurice Selby, David Martin Pooley
  • Patent number: 10194648
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer including an applicator boom which itself includes a centre boom frame and a pair of multi-section boom side assemblies. Each side assembly is mounted by a respective hinge to the centre boom frame. Neighbouring boom sections are mutually connected by a hinged joint which permits folding around an upright axis from a deployed operating configuration to a transport configuration. A spring and damper mechanism is associated with the hinged joint for controlling pivoting movement around the upright axis between said two boom sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Joris Jan Hiddema, Harm Martens
  • Patent number: 10195469
    Abstract: A directional valve for a fire suppression system comprises a valve member for controlling the discharge of fire suppression agent. The valve member comprises: a blocking portion to provide a closed setting for the fire suppression agent; a first orifice to provide a fully open setting for the fire suppression agent; and a second orifice to provide a restricted opening setting in which discharge of fire suppression agent is restricted. The valve member is configured so that during activation of the directional valve from a closed setting, the first orifice follows the blocking portion and precedes the second orifice in order to provide a fully open setting followed by a restricted opening setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KIDDE GRAVINER LIMITED
    Inventors: Stuart M. Smith, Paul A. Rennie, Josephine G. Gatsonides