Patents Examined by Erika J. Villaluna
  • Patent number: 11709457
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an ultrasonic sensor and a processor is configured to control the image forming apparatus based on an output signal of the ultrasonic sensor. The processor estimates a barometric pressure based on the output signal of the ultrasonic sensor and determines an image forming condition based on the estimated barometric pressure. The ultrasonic sensor is utilized for controlling the image forming apparatus and for estimating the barometric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ichino, Naoki Nishimura, Hiromitsu Kumada, Masafumi Monde
  • Patent number: 11703778
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BALL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Adam P. S. Stowitts
  • Patent number: 11703362
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a paddlewheel for a flow meter is provided. The method can include providing an inner part of the paddlewheel. The method can also include inserting a plurality of magnets in the inner part of the paddlewheel. The method can also include overmolding an outer part of the paddlewheel over the inner part of the paddlewheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: John T. Nguyen, Robert E. Gledhill, III
  • Patent number: 11703363
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a flow meter assembly. The inline flow meter assembly includes a housing, an elongated flow member, and a piston. The housing includes a fluid passage. The elongated flow member has a shaft portion and an opposite fluid flow portion. The fluid flow portion has an outer peripheral surface. The shaft portion is coupled to the housing. The piston has a plate. The plate has a plate orifice. The piston and the plate move axially between a no flow position where the outer peripheral surface of the fluid flow portion is engaged with the plate orifice to prevent a fluid flow and a full flow position where the outer peripheral surface of the fluid flow portion is disengaged with the plate orifice such that the fluid flow enters the plate orifice and passes through the fluid passage in the axial direction of movement of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: DWYER INSTRUMENTS, LLC
    Inventors: Lars O. Rosaen, Peter E. Hackett
  • Patent number: 11698601
    Abstract: A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Yukio Kubo, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Koji Wada
  • Patent number: 11693355
    Abstract: Movement and/or urging of a developer carrying member is carried out with high precision. A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Yukio Kubo, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Koji Wada
  • Patent number: 11687027
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer and a developer discharging body in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body. The developer discharging body has a discharge opening configured to form at least a part of a discharge passageway through which developer may be discharged to outside of the developer supply container. A track is positioned at a side of the developer discharging body. A cover is attached to the developer discharging body, with the cover being configured to cover the developer discharging body and the track, with the cover including a front wall that crosses a rotational axis of the developer accommodating body, and with the front wall being provided with a slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11669043
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11662237
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes N first valves. Inlets of the N first valves are fluidly connected to N gas sources, respectively, where N is an integer greater than zero. N mass flow controllers include a microelectromechanical (MEMS) Coriolis flow sensor having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of a corresponding one of the N first valves. A second valve has an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the MEMS Coriolis flow sensor and an outlet supplying fluid to treat a substrate arranged in a processing chamber. A controller in communication with the MEMS Coriolis flow sensor is configured to determine at least one of a mass flow rate and a density of fluid flowing through the MEMS Coriolis flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Iqbal A. Shareef, Dennis Smith, John E. Daugherty
  • Patent number: 11662289
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring viscosities of fluids is described, comprising: a measuring system (1) having at least one measuring tube (5), which in measurement operation is filled with a fluid or through which fluid is flowing, and which has at least one tube section (4, 7) excitable to execute oscillations; an exciter system (1) for exciting at least two wanted oscillation modes of different frequencies, at each of which at least one of the tube sections (4, 7) is excited to execute oscillations, especially resonant oscillations; a sensing system (3), which is embodied in such a manner that it determines for the wanted oscillation modes excited in measurement operation, in each case, a frequency and a damping, especially a frequency, an amplitude and a damping, of a resulting oscillation of at least one tube section (4, 7) excited to execute oscillations of one of the wanted oscillation modes, and an evaluation system (15), which is embodied in such a manner that it determines based on calibration data stored
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Martin Josef Anklin, Christof Huber
  • Patent number: 11662049
    Abstract: A pipeline has a fitting with a wedge-shaped plug pressed into a wedge-shaped fitting recess by a retaining ring to block flow through the fitting for pressure testing. The plug has an extractor plate fastened to the plug through a center of the retaining ring so the retaining ring can rotate relative to the plug and extractor plate. But the extractor plate is a predetermined maximum distance from the plug and is larger than the center opening of the retaining ring to captivate the retaining ring between the plug and extractor plate. That limits the retaining ring motion along the port's axis. Threading engagement between the retaining ring and port allow the retaining ring to push the plug into the fitting in a first rotation direction while rotation in the opposite direction allows the retaining ring to push the extractor plate and the connected plug out of the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION
    Inventors: James W. Cosley, Jacob T. Chase
  • Patent number: 11650524
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotating member, a heater, a fixing pad, a pressurizing member, a lubricant, and a surface layer. The fixing rotating member is configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium and is heated by the heater. The fixing pad is positioned on an inner circumferential side of the fixing rotating member, and presses the fixing rotating member from the inner circumferential side. The pressurizing member faces an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member, and forms a nip for fixing between the pressurizing member and the fixing rotating member. The lubricant is applied to the fixing rotating member. The surface layer is disposed in a vicinity of an end portion of a pressurizing surface of the fixing pad and returns the lubricant to a longitudinal central side of the pressurizing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamazoe
  • Patent number: 11644790
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11644355
    Abstract: A device for measuring the mass flow rate, including a flow pipe; a first set of actuators which are arranged in a first plane including a first transverse cross section of the pipe and perpendicular to the fluid flow path, these being configured to move selectively in the first plane; a control circuit configured to control a movement of the first and second actuators so that the cross-sectional area for flow through the pipe in the first plane remains constant; a measurement sensor measuring a force or a stress in a direction perpendicular to the flow path, in the vicinity of the actuators of the first set along the flow path; a computation device configured to calculate the mass flow rate passing through the flow pipe as a function of the force or stress measured by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, SAFRAN
    Inventors: Agustin Palacios Laloy, Jean-Christophe Riou
  • Patent number: 11644140
    Abstract: A flow dampener for dampening pulsation in a fluid flow includes a body shell, a flexible membrane, and two flow ports. The body shell has an interior surface and an elongate groove formed on the interior surface. The flexible membrane is sealed to the interior surface of the body shell and covers the elongate groove. In some embodiments, the flexible membrane is over-molded onto the body shell. The flexible membrane cooperates with the elongate groove to form an elongate flow path for the fluid flow. The flexible membrane has a thickness in a range from 0.5 mm to 6 mm. As the membrane is flexible, it vibrates as the fluid flows through the elongate flow path, absorbs kinetic energy in the fluid flow, and thereby dampens pulsation in the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: PIRANHA PLASTICS, LLC
    Inventor: Charles A. Centofante
  • Patent number: 11630023
    Abstract: The invention relates to detection technology field and provides a tool-less tray that is detachably mounted on a casing inner wall. The tray has a plate body and a side wall; at least 3 shaped holes are disposed on the side wall; at least one screw pillar is fixed to the plate body and is configured to be firmly connected to an additional function board. The technical solution provided by the invention is tool-less, realizes fast installation and detachment of tray, realizes fast addition and removal of additional function board in limited space and is convenient to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhao Geng, Zhifa Chen
  • Patent number: 11624636
    Abstract: A turbine wheel used in a turbine flow meter includes a hub configured to be freely rotatably fixed in position inside a fluid pipe section. A first cylindrical rim is centered about the hub and the longitudinal axis and spaced a distance apart from the hub. A first vane set extends outwardly from the hub to the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the hub and a tip of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the first cylindrical rim. The first vane set may consist of one or two individual vanes. An external vane set may extend outwardly from the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane is attached to the first cylindrical rim and a tip of each vane is not attached to any cylindrical rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FORTUNE BRANDS WATER INNOVATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Scilingo
  • Patent number: 11624689
    Abstract: A falling-object protective structures (FOPS) test assembly for carrying a FOPS test of a wall of cab of a heavy vehicle is configured to releasably carry a test ball for the FOPS test above a predefined distance above wall. The FOPS test assembly defines a closed path for test ball from its housing position to wall, and includes a handling means configured to assume a first condition in which they do not interfere with the passage of test ball through the closed path when ball passes through closed path in a first direction and a second condition in which handling means lock and hold test ball within the closed path once test ball passes again through the closed path in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Vincenzo Perrone, Andrea Soffritti
  • Patent number: 11619526
    Abstract: A fire truck pump flow prediction system includes a pump, an inlet pipe connected to the pump, a discharge pipe connected to the pump, an intake pressure sensor connected to the inlet pipe, a discharge pressure sensor connected to the discharge pipe, a rotational sensor associated with the pump and a central processor connected to the intake pressure sensor, the discharge pressure sensor and the rotational sensor. The intake pressure sensor is configured to detect fire suppressant inlet pressure and the discharge pressure sensor is configured to detect fire suppressant discharge pressure. The rotational sensor configured to detect a rotational speed of the pump. The central processor configured to determine a flow through the pump and into the discharge pipe based on the inlet pressure, the discharge pressure and the rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: HALE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Laskaris, David Miller
  • Patent number: 11608045
    Abstract: A system and method of checking sealing of a brake caliper housing. The method may include determining a level of moisture in a cavity of a brake caliper housing with a sensor. In another configuration, the method may determine whether a detected pressure inside the cavity remains stable for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Philpott