Patents Examined by Gene Crawford
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Patent number: 9499345Abstract: A pacing device for a transfer of individual vehicles of a gravity conveyor onto a conveying device of the gravity conveyor that conveys in a paced manner. Thereby, the pacing device is designed such that the individual vehicles can be assigned to a pace of the conveying device and that the pacing device includes a damping mechanism that gently weakens an impulse of an individual vehicle moving in the direction of the pacing device, the impulse acting upon the pacing device. The pacing device can include a release on which the damping mechanism is formed. The damping mechanism in particular can be designed as an arm with an elastic part-region.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: FERAG AGInventors: Roberto Fenile, Simon Guhl
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Patent number: 9501890Abstract: A manually operable dispenser for dispensing disposable earplugs. The dispenser includes a housing, an index body, and a plate. The housing forms an opening for receiving earplugs from a container. The index body includes a handle and a hub. The hub forms an upper major face, a lower major face, and a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores. Each of the bores is open to the major faces and is defined by a wall surface extending through a thickness of the hub. At least a portion of the wall surface of each of the bores has an anti-bonding construction. The hub is rotatably mounted within the housing. The plate is connected to the housing, and forms a dispensing aperture. A manually-applied rotational force at the handle selectively aligns respective ones of the bores with the dispensing aperture. The anti-bonding construction promotes sliding, low friction interface with individual earplugs.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David M. Rudek, Guenter M. Zilligen, Joerg R. Purfuerst
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Patent number: 9498095Abstract: A gravity feed dispenser including a dispensing opening that exposes part of a front face and part of a bottom face of a stack of interfolded napkins. Interference tabs restrict the dispensing opening at the front face of the stack of napkins. A stack of interfolded napkins is seated on a bottom wall of the dispenser. The bottom wall is set back from a front wall in a front to rear direction to provide a dispensing gap. A leading flap of the stack of napkins hangs through the dispensing gap while a leading fold of the stack of napkins is pressed against a bottom end of the front wall. When the leading flap is pushed back, the leading fold passes beneath a bottom edge of the front wall to be grasped by a user for dispensing napkins at least two at a time.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS ABInventor: John S. Formon
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Patent number: 9499357Abstract: The conveying device for conveying products comprises a plurality of slides individually movable with respect to each other for holding products and a guide rail, on which the slides are guided. A linear motor drive unit serves to drive the slides. The slides comprise a first subelement and a second subelement, each of the subelements comprising at least one permanent magnet, which interacts at least in certain sections of the guide rail with coils of the linear motor drive unit. The first and second subelements are connected to each other and are movable relative to each other in linear fashion.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: UHLMANN PAC-SYSTEME GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Thomas Aumann, Mathias Wegerer, Wolfgang Rodi, Daniel Zieher
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Patent number: 9500435Abstract: A powered dispenser includes a case including a central hole and a hopper in a channel for receiving spherical particles; a support disc including two opposite arc openings, an arc flange, a projection on the arc flange, and a first bossed hole; a rotatable disk including a second bossed hole put on the first bossed hole, two opposite pegs disposed through the openings, a curved slot between an edge of the rotatable disk and the second bossed hole with the projection moveably disposed therein, and striking members; a biasing member in a space defined between the flange and the edge of the rotatable disk; a cap including a hollow peg member in the first bossed hole; a spring biased retaining ring urging against the hole, and the retaining ring including two opposite sloped cuts with the pegs slidably disposed therein; a rotatable shaft; and a trigger switch.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Inventor: Jui-Fu Tseng
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Patent number: 9499342Abstract: A belt feeding unit includes a rotatable belt, a first stretching roller for stretching the belt, and a second stretching roller including a stretching portion for stretching the belt. A first member is provided at one end portion of the stretching portion with respect to a widthwise direction of the belt and perpendicular to a movement direction of the belt. The first member is movable relative to the stretching portion to change a position of one end of the stretching portion at the one end portion. In addition, a second member is provided at the other end portion of the stretching portion and is movable relative to the stretching portion to change a position of the other end of the stretching portion at the other end portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Atsushi Ogata
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Patent number: 9493311Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a fodder-feeding disc wire driving device having a tension management unit, the driving device including: a drive motor; a drive sprocket having multiple protrusions on a circumference thereof; an idle wheel provided at a position adjacent to the drive sprocket such that the disc wire moved by the drive sprocket passes over the idle wheel; a tension adjustment unit connected to a central shaft of the idle wheel, the tension adjustment unit being movably provided on a line extending between a central axis of the drive sprocket and a central axis of the idle wheel; a casing having a disc wire inlet and a disc wire outlet; a tension measurement unit mechanically provided between the casing and the tension adjustment unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Inventor: Jang Chun Park
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Patent number: 9487340Abstract: A disposable container for tissues (a tissue box) includes a plurality of sides defining an interior space, wherein at least one side includes at least one dispensing opening. The dispensing opening is at least partially covered by a dispensing insert which includes at least one active substance and is arranged such that active substance is transferred to at least a portion of the tissues. The materials and structure of the container allow tissues to be impregnated with an active substance—such as a fragrance—as each tissue is dispensed from the container. The disposable container and a package including the disposable container and a plurality of tissues located within the container are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS ABInventors: Gonzalo Castela, Jacky Deschamps, Nicolas Toumpsin
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Patent number: 9486876Abstract: A device for rotating, positioning, and introducing electrode caps for welding electrodes into a magazine. A rotating electrode cap channel is connected to a spiral conveyor. The electrode caps stand on a cap end-face provided with a bore on the spiral conveyor end, and they are rotated by 90°. The other end of the rotating electrode cap channel is arranged relative to the upper end of the guiding shaft such that vibrations of the spiral conveyor are not transmitted to the rest of the system. The openings of the rotating electrode cap channel and the guiding shaft are arranged relative to one another such that the electrode caps can be reliably transferred, and the guiding shaft is connected to the magazine filling unit at the lower end of the guiding shaft. The magazine connection has locking lever sensors, which detect the correct fit of the magazine.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Braeuer Systemtechnik GmbHInventors: Andreas Braeuer, Markus Beyer, Rene Seipt
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Patent number: 9481523Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt (20) along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower (10) with parallel drive members (14) extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge (28) that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower. In another version, a conveyor belt has teeth (62) with guide surfaces (78, 79) at the inside edge of the belt. The teeth guide the drive members between belt rows into driving engagement with drive faces at the inside edge of the belt.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Casper Fedde Talsma, David W. Bogle
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Patent number: 9481526Abstract: A conveyor assembly includes a reciprocally moveable conveyor bed, having a product conveying surface, and a magnetic drive which is oriented in spaced relation relative to the conveyor bed and which, when energized, imparts reciprocal motion to the conveyor bed to move the product along the product conveying surface of the conveyor bed.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.Inventor: Eugene Groenewald
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Patent number: 9481200Abstract: A marker plate embossing system is provided having an improved loading device, and improved chute and hopper systems. The loading device reduces the likelihood of marker plate misfeed. The chute and hopper systems allow the embossing of varying sized embossing plates, while reducing the likelihood of embossed marker plates being delivered in an incorrect stacked-order. A marker plate removal system is also provided for removing embossed marker plates from the hopper system without the marker plates falling out of the stacked-order.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Panduit Corp.Inventors: James R. Ward, Mark B. Richardson, Anthony G. Smith, Sr.
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Patent number: 9481482Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing sorbent canisters into containers includes a first wheel and a second wheel, disposed to rotate with each other. A first plate is disposed between the first and second wheels and a second plate is disposed on a side of the second wheel opposite the first wheel.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark Brug, Brian D. Kamas, Jason L. Kerkeslager
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Patent number: 9481529Abstract: A tilt-tray sorting installation for articles and a tilt-tray conveying carriage for use in a tilt-tray sorting installation. The tilt-tray conveying carriage has a basic carriage, which is configured for displacement in the tilt-tray sorting installation, a carrying tray, which can be pivoted about a tilting axis relative to the basic carriage, and a tilting drive. A drive device of the tilting drive is fixed in relation to the basic carriage. A traction device is operatively connected to the drive device and the carrying tray. In order to render the devices suitable for heavy articles, the tilt-tray conveying carriage is provided with a traction-device guide which is arranged in a rotatably fixed manner on the carrying tray, against which the traction device abuts, at least in part, and which deflects the traction device.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Peter Berdelle-Hilge
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Patent number: 9481521Abstract: A multi-directional roller assembly for directing articles in a conveying system. The multi-directional roller assembly has a rotatable roller frame housing at least one set of mutually-actuating rollers. The multi-directional roller assembly directs an article supported by the assembly along a trajectory determined by the orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly relative to an input force. The orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly may be changed to change the trajectory. A conveyor system may include an array of multi-directional roller assemblies. An actuator controls the orientation of the multi-directional roller assemblies individually and may also control an array of multi-directional roller assemblies as a group.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney
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Patent number: 9474207Abstract: The article of manufacture is a kit that when installed upon a combine will enable the grain tank's folding auger to be raised and lowered by a push of a button in the cab. The kit contains a collar to encircle the auger tube, two universal joints, a linear actuator, and a mounting plate. To install the kit, one bolts the mounting plate to the bottom of the combine's grain tank. Next, the collar is bolted around the auger tube. Then, the installer mounts the linear actuator with a universal joint on each end between the collar and the mounting plate. The installer next installs the safety limiting switch and wires the system. Once all the wiring is completed, the installer returns to the combine's cabin and tests the system. The system contains a safety system that informs the operator of the combine when the auger is in operating or folded position.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Inventor: Jeffrey D. Bohn
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Patent number: 9475657Abstract: Apparatus for transferring an object from a first station to a second station with a different orientation is provided comprising a stator, a rotor rotatable externally of the stator about an axis of rotation, and at least one retaining member for retaining the object. The retaining member can rotate integrally with the rotor, and is rotatable with respect to the rotor about its own axis of rotation. The stator has a cam profile coupled to and functionally cooperating with at least one axially extending follower which is constrained to the retaining member. The axis of rotation of the retaining member and the axis of extension of the follower are substantially always incident to the axis of rotation of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: INMAN S.R.L.Inventors: Vincenzo Bettinelli, Gianfranco Colombo
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Patent number: 9475650Abstract: A screw supply apparatus includes a screw feeding unit, a screw transfer unit, and an escape unit. In the screw supply apparatus, the screw feeding unit includes a rotating drum having a horizontal rotating shaft. At a rear surface fixation bearing portion positioned on the rear surface side of the rotating drum, a screw input portion is provided for introducing screws into the rotating drum. Also, at a front surface fixation bearing portion positioned on the front surface side of the rotating drum, an opening is formed. The screw transfer unit includes a pair of transfer rails, which has a central groove and is inserted from the opening of the front surface fixation bearing portion into the rotating drum. In the vicinity of the outer circumference of the rotating drum, a drive cam is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: OHTAKE ROOT KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshitake Ota, Hiroshi Takahashi
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Patent number: 9475649Abstract: A pickface builder for a storage and retrieval system for storing goods units and having an in-feed conveyor and a picking device, each goods unit holding at least one product package therein, the pickface builder including a frame, a pusher member movably coupled to the frame, and a snugger member movably coupled to the frame, wherein the pickface builder is configured to receive goods units from the in-feed conveyor and the pusher member and snugger member are movable at least in a direction transverse to a direction of goods unit travel on the in-feed conveyor and configured to form the goods units into a pickface picked by the picking device as a unit and having a predetermined reference datum relating the pickface to a placement position of goods units forming the pickface along a storage surface of the storage and retrieval system.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Symbolic, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Patent number: 9469479Abstract: This invention provides a transport unit that includes driving rollers arrayed in the transport direction of a work, and when the work transported by the driving rollers reaches a predetermined stop position, stops movement of the work. The driving rollers include at least one first driving roller, and at least one second driving roller arranged on the side of the predetermined stop position in the transport direction with respect to the first driving roller. The first driving roller is a roller capable of idling on a driving shaft. The second driving roller is a roller incapable of idling on the driving shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: HIRATA CORPORATIONInventor: Bungo Matsumoto
