Patents Examined by Erika J. Villaluna
  • Patent number: 11187560
    Abstract: A traverse mechanism for measuring flow characteristics in a fluid flow path is provided. The traverse mechanism includes a rotating member configured to rotate 360 degrees about an axis in a circumferential direction. The traverse mechanism also includes a probe coupled to the rotating member. The probe extends in a radial direction relative to the axis through a portion the rotating member into the fluid flow path. Rotation of the rotating member enables the probe to map or measure one or more flow characteristic in the fluid flow path 360 degrees about the axis in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bala Muralidhar Singh Bahadur, Joshy John, Srinivas Rao Pakkala
  • Patent number: 11187564
    Abstract: Vibratory meters (5), and methods for their use measuring a fluid are provided. Each vibratory meter includes a multichannel flow tube (300) comprising two or more fluid channels (302), a pickoff (170), a driver (180), and meter electronics (20) configured to apply a drive signal to the driver at a drive frequency ?, and measure a deflection of the multichannel flow tube with the pickoff. At least one fluid channel has an effective diameter that is related to the length of the flow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Bell, Joel Weinstein, Mitalee Nayan Desai, Clinton R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 11156318
    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: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Reliance Worldwide Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Cosley, Jacob T. Chase
  • Patent number: 11156946
    Abstract: In a heater including a plurality of first temperature detection elements that are arranged at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of a substrate and respectively output temperature signals individually, and a plurality of second temperature detection elements that are arranged at predetermined intervals in positions that differ from the positions of the first temperature detection elements in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction but correspond to the positions of at least some of the plurality of first temperature detection elements in the longitudinal direction, and that output a single temperature signal obtained by adding individual temperature signals together, the individual temperature signals included in the single temperature signal are acquired on the basis of the plurality of temperature signals output by the plurality of first temperature detection elements and the single temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Ogura, Yasuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 11145784
    Abstract: A light-emitting thyristor includes a layered structure having a semiconductor DBR layer, a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductive type, a third semiconductor layer, and a fourth semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type in this order on a semiconductor substrate, the third semiconductor layer has at least one fifth semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and a multi-quantum well structure, the fifth semiconductor layer is present between the second semiconductor layer and the multi-quantum well structure, the multi-quantum well structure is formed of barrier layers and quantum well layers, and the number of the quantum well layers is greater than or equal to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Uchida, Takako Suga
  • Patent number: 11143565
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing a system including a pipe segment and a test head. The test head includes a shell that defines an annulus cavity to be used to interface with an annulus of the pipe segment, in which the shell includes a bore insert having a male taper to be inserted into a pipe bore of the pipe segment, a testing port that extends through the shell and fluidly coupled to the annulus cavity, and an internal clamp assembly including clamp segments having a female taper that slidably interface with the male taper of the bore insert, in which an outer surface diameter of the clamp segments is controlled by position of the clamp segments on the bore insert to facilitate selectively securing and sealing an open end of the pipe segment in the test head to enable integrity of the tubing to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Guerrero, Richard Limas, Max Allen Reedy
  • Patent number: 11143537
    Abstract: An apparatus having a shaft, a bearing sleeve for rotatably supporting the shaft, a housing, in which at least one part of the bearing sleeve is arranged, and a sealing element, which seals a gap between a wall of the housing and the bearing sleeve. The sealing element divides the gap gas-tight into a first partial space adjacent to the front side of the sealing element and a second partial space adjacent to the back side of the sealing element, the sealing element having a flexible part, which is in contact with the wall of the housing and/or the bearing sleeve, and the housing having a first barrier gas inlet for introducing barrier gas into the first partial space as well as a second barrier gas inlet for introducing barrier gas into the second partial space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Schenck Process Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Kahle
  • Patent number: 11137329
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an apparatus for analyzing a mechanical vibratory response of a solid material sample, the apparatus comprising: an array of impactors arranged to impart an impact on respective well-defined points on the surface of said solid material sample; a sensor configured to capture said mechanical vibratory response as a time-varying signal, subsequent to an impact of said at least one impactor; and processing means configured to analyze said time-varying signal to determine the frequencies and decay constants of sinusoids making up said time-varying signal. The invention also pertains to a corresponding method of characterizing a solid material sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: GRINDOSONIC BV
    Inventor: Alex Van Den Bossche
  • Patent number: 11137714
    Abstract: A developer supply container supplies a developer through a developer receiving opening displacably provided in a developer receiving apparatus to which the developer supply container is detachably mountable. The developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion to accommodate a developer, and a discharge opening to permit discharge of the developer in the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving opening. An engaging portion, engageable with the developer receiving apparatus, displaces the developer receiving opening toward a position of the discharge opening at the time when the developer supply container is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus, with a mounting operation of the developer supply container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11131960
    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 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Yukio Kubo, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Koji Wada
  • Patent number: 11119438
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer, a drum cartridge, an exposure device, a fixing device, and a toner cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member, a developing device, a waste toner conveying pipe, and a frame. The toner cartridge includes a toner container and a waste toner container. The cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in the state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position. The drum cartridge is capable of being mounted to the drawer. The toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11105706
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing blowout preventers for leaks involves maintaining a constant pressure in the portion of the blowout preventer to be tested. A sensor is connected to a controller for maintaining a constant pressure within the blowout preventer. Any amount of fluid introduced into or removed from the blowout preventer in order to maintain constant pressure is measured and is an indication of the leak rate in the blowout preventer. Additionally vibration instrumentation may be used to detect the location and amplitude of vibrations emitted by the test fluid passing from a high pressure regime to the low pressure regime across a leak path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Engip, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford L. Hilpert, Jeffrey L. Hilpert
  • Patent number: 11106153
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure portion including a plurality of surface emitting elements configured to expose a photosensitive member, a drive unit configured to turn ON the surface emitting elements based on image information, and a light amount control unit configured to adjust a drive current value to control an amount of light to be emitted from the surface emitting elements; and a controller configured to output the image information to the exposure portion. The controller includes a light amount adjustment unit configured to correct the image information based on an adjustment value to adjust the amount of light to be emitted from the surface emitting elements and a medium tone processing unit configured to quantize the image information corrected by the light amount adjustment unit by error diffusion to reduce a number of tones in the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidefumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11099502
    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 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BALL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Adam P. S. Stowitts
  • Patent number: 11092910
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a semiconductor stacked structure including a light-emitting layer, a metal electrode provided over the semiconductor stacked structure and having an opening for externally emitting a light emitted from the light-emitting layer, and a transparent electrode provided over the semiconductor stacked structure inside the opening and over the metal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Kamata, Koichiro Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 11086253
    Abstract: During a print cycle of a print apparatus, a liquid print agent including a carrier fluid is applied to a photoconductive surface. A proportion of the carrier fluid in the liquid print agent on the photoconductive surface is reduced at a first location by removably collecting a portion of the carrier fluid from the liquid print agent applied to the photoconductive surface. During a non-print cycle of the print apparatus, the removably collected portion of the carrier fluid is added to the photoconductive surface at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Asaf Anufa, Ronen Bitan, Doron Schlumm, Shmuel Borenstain
  • Patent number: 11079363
    Abstract: The systems and methods of this disclosure enable evaluation, verification, and testing of toxic gas sensors without the need for a target gas cylinder. The systems and methods for testing toxic gas sensors over a broad range of frequencies facilitates evaluation and diagnosis of mechanisms underlying sensor performance. The systems and methods of this disclosure may be incorporated into portable gas sensing equipment for in field diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Eric Dinsmore
  • Patent number: 11079711
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable cylindrical component to be cleaned, and a bar brush having a base substrate and bristles. The base substrate of the bar brush is located at a fixed position relative to the component to be cleaned. The bristles extend from the base substrate to contact the component to be cleaned. The bristles have free ends that form a tip end surface of the bar brush. The tip end surface has a curved shape that conforms with a surface of the component, when the bristles are not in contact with the surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Koji Miyake, Satoru Furuya, Kensuke Nakajima, Shun Ikeura
  • Patent number: 11073793
    Abstract: An example device includes a conveyor to convey a printed medium along a path from a print engine towards a printed media output. The device further includes a housing to hold the conveyor. The housing defines an air intake, an exhaust port, and a conveyor volume to contain the conveyor. The air intake provides air to the conveyor volume to dry the printed medium. The device further includes a tortuous exhaust passage extending from the conveyor volume to the exhaust port to exhaust air from the conveyor volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Matthew Raisanen, Alan Shibata
  • Patent number: 11060892
    Abstract: In this vortex flowmeter provided with a vortex generator and a flow rate measuring unit the flow rate measurement unit includes a piezoelectric element and a piezoelectric element case. The piezoelectric element case includes: a fitted part fitted in the body case; a pressure receiving part protruding out from a distal end face of the fitted part and placed in a body passage; a hollow portion formed along the axial direction of the piezoelectric element case in the fitted part to separate the fitted part and the pressure receiving part; and a slit formed inside of the pressure receiving part and configured to accommodate the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Ohshima, Yuki Sakaki, Takaharu Matsuura, Ryo Eguchi