Patents Examined by Gene O. Crawford
  • Patent number: 11718482
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring disturbance forces experienced by a mover in an independent cart system monitors current generated by a controller and a feedback signal corresponding to operation of the mover in response to the current generated by the controller. The controller stores a value of the current reference and of the feedback signal, sampled in tandem, and determines a disturbance force experienced by the mover as it travels along the track as a function of the stored values of the current reference and of the feedback signal. The controller may store the measured disturbance force experienced by the mover as a function of the location of the mover along the track. For each subsequent time the mover travels along the same length of track, the controller may add a compensation value to the current reference to reduce the disturbance force experienced by the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Huang, Sean Lu, Tracy M. Clark
  • Patent number: 11718488
    Abstract: A linear motor conveyor system having a moving element including a first and a second magnetic element on opposite sides; a first track including a first linear motor configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field which acts on the first magnetic element to provide a first lateral force and a first longitudinal force; a second track with a transfer region positioned adjacent to the first track, the second track configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the second magnetic element to provide a second lateral force; and a controller to control the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force is configured to bias the moving element toward the first linear motor until the moving element reaches a switch point in the transfer region, where the first and second lateral forces are selectively adjusted to bias the moving element toward the second track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ATS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Albert Kleinikkink, Roger Hogan
  • Patent number: 11718483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement, comprising a motor-operated conveyor roller, comprising a roller body which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a roller axis, a drive unit which is arranged within the roller body and is mechanically coupled between the roller body and an axle element and is designed to generate a torque between the axle element and the roller body, and a control data interface which is connected in a signal-transmitting fashion to the drive unit. The invention is characterized by an electronic addressing model which can be coupled in a signal-transmitting fashion to the sensor and to the bus line and is designed to encode a sensor signal, which is generated by the sensor and received in the addressing module, to form a bus-encoded sensor data block which comprises a digital sensor signal data block which characterises the sensor signal and a sensor address data block, and to transmit the bus-encoded sensor data block into the bus line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Interroll Holding AG
    Inventors: Daniel Heinen, Herbert Henze, Claus Blödorn, Wolfgang Puntigam
  • Patent number: 11719327
    Abstract: The present disclosure periodically monitors an oil condition through a temperature sensor installed in a driving motor of an in-wheel-type running gear, the generated torque of the driving motor, or the like and transmits oil condition information to a driver through a vehicle warning light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae Jun Yang, Yeo Jeong Kim
  • Patent number: 11721158
    Abstract: A system for dispensing an item from a dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The system is attached to a dispensing apparatus lower portion of the dispensing apparatus. The system includes a plate and a flap movably attached to the plate. The flap has a flap open position and a flap closed position. As stop extends outward from a flap first surface of a flap lower portion. A movable arm is in attachment with the flap and moves the flap between the flap open position and the flap closed position. A heating element at least proximate to the flap. An opening on the flap extends between the flap first surface and a flap second surface. A rod is substantially vertically arranged and in attachment with the plate and configured such that the rod passes through the opening when the flap moves between the flap open position and the flap closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Braido, Audley Wilson, Christopher Carbonaro, Justin Dawber, Theodore Halbach
  • Patent number: 11721157
    Abstract: Disclosed is a first dispenser module with a product holder for holding a plurality of beverage cans and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing one beverage can of the plurality of beverage cans at a time in a dispensing direction from the product holder, wherein the product holder is arranged for holding the plurality of beverage cans with their central axes parallel to said product orientation direction. The dispensing mechanism has a retaining cam that is movable with at least a vector component in the production orientation direction between a retaining position for retaining the plurality of beverage cans and a release position for releasing the beverage cans from the product holder, wherein the retaining cam, in the retaining position, is arranged to be in the path of the top rim or the bottom rim of one of the beverage cans in the dispensing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Leonard Jakob Van Schothorst
  • Patent number: 11713198
    Abstract: The present invention provides a medicine checking assembly line. The present invention solves a problem of low automation degree of the existing medicine checking assembly line. The medicine checking assembly line includes a conveying device, a turnover device, a separation device, a medicine bottle recycling device, a medicine bag stacking device and a medicine basket stacking device, which are connected sequentially. The conveying device is used for transferring medicine baskets between medicine dissolving personnel and medicine checking personnel; the turnover device is used for turning over the medicine baskets; the separation device is used for separating the medicine baskets, medicine bottles and medicine bags; the medicine bottle recycling device is used for recycling the used medicine bottles; the medicine bag stacking device is used for stacking and collecting the medicine bags; and the medicine basket stacking device is used for stacking and recycling the medicine baskets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Shengjie Wu
  • Patent number: 11713196
    Abstract: A conveyor drive system for installation in a load-holding compartment, the load-holding compartment having a compartment floor having a top surface, the conveyor drive system includes a linear actuator, a framework, and at least one linear-actuator-to-slat connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hallco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. Berthelsen
  • Patent number: 11713796
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
  • Patent number: 11713095
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur includes a base member mountable to a bicycle frame and a cage assembly moveably coupled to the base member. One or both of a motor and/or electrical generator system may be coupled to and moveable with the cage assembly. The motor is operable to move the cage assembly. The electrical generator system includes a generator and a generator drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Sage Hahn
  • Patent number: 11701668
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and their methods of use, for sorting or separating magnetic particles are provided. A magnetic source, e.g., with at least one sharp feature, can be employed to exert a strong magnetic field on magnetic particles in order to separate particles of a desired and predictable property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: 10x Genomics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alireza Salmanzadeh
  • Patent number: 11703181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for reducing rotor vibrations, in particular the variability thereof, in shafting, in particular turbine shafting, in which the temperature of the bearing (6) of the shaft is measured and the oil (8) supplied to the bearing is adjusted to a temperature as is assigned as the output variable in an allocation for minimised rotor vibrations with the measured temperature of the bearing as the input variable. The allocation can, for example, be provided by an initial measurement of the rotor vibrations or by a self-learning system. According to the invention, the variability of the rotor vibrations is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Andrey Mashkin, Robin Burzan, Sebastian Zahn, Gerta Zimmer, Esteban Grau Sorarrain, Alexander Münnekhoff, Florian Röhr, Christian Jäkel, Matthias Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11702289
    Abstract: A storage and order-picking system including a warehouse, wherein the warehouse includes a storage module formed by two racks including one rack aisle therebetween; separation stations associated with the storage module, each separation station having associated therewith a respective pick up location; separate conveying systems for feeding storage containers from the warehouse to the pick up locations of the separation stations, respectively; and a robot arranged between the separate conveyors such that the robot can pick up during one movement cycle from each of the separate conveying systems respectively one article and can deliver between the corresponding article pick up locations one article which has already been picked up to a deposition location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SSI Schäfer Automation GmbH (DE)
    Inventors: Elmar Issing, Christian Herzmaier
  • Patent number: 11702296
    Abstract: A conveying system is disclosed. The conveying system may have a first conveying apparatus that conveys a first article to a first location. The conveying system may also have a second conveying apparatus that conveys a second article to a second location. The conveying system may have a frame, a chute connected to the frame, and a third conveying apparatus. The chute may convey the first article received from the first conveying apparatus to a discharge location. The third conveying apparatus, disposed below the chute, may convey the second article received from the second conveying apparatus to the discharge location. The chute may be movable relative to the to the third conveying apparatus, such that the first or second article may be selectively conveyed to the discharge location via the chute or third conveying apparatus, depending on the position of the chute relative to the third conveying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FEDEX GROUND PACKAGE SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventors: John Hughes, Timothy Roney
  • Patent number: 11697517
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions. The systems can include a housing that encloses a receiving space having a bottom surface. A separation device may be provided and arranged on the bottom surface with at least one channel to receive at least one medicament portion. At least one channel may have an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface. The opening facing the bottom surface may be associated with a contact area on the bottom surface, over which contact area the medicament portions may be guided upon a movement of separation device. At least one recess may be arranged in the bottom surface outside of the contact area to receive contamination particles present in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Hardy Schmidt-Ellinger, Dietmar Gross
  • Patent number: 11697559
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling a steep conveyor, comprising a control unit (15), a conveyor drive system (5) for driving a conveyor belt (2), and a sensor unit for determining a weight G1-n of the material to be conveyed (4) assigned to a predetermined section T1-n of the conveyor belt (2), wherein the sensor unit is adapted to transmit information about the weight to the control unit (15), wherein the control unit (15) is adapted to determine from the information about the weight G1-n a length L1-n assigned to the predetermined section T1-n in a steep conveyor region S of the conveyor belt (2) and to adjust a strain of a drive belt (2) of the conveyor drive system (5) based on the determined lengths L1-n assigned to the predetermined sections T1-n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: REMA TIP TOP AG
    Inventor: Günter Busse
  • Patent number: 11697558
    Abstract: Methods and systems for automated detection of carton damage are disclosed. One method includes capturing one or more images of a carton via a camera system at a routing location within a warehouse of a retail supply chain, and applying a machine learning model to determine a likelihood of damage of the carton. The method can include, based on the likelihood of damage being above a particular threshold, identifying the carton as damaged. A carton assessment record can be stored in a carton damage tracking database, including the one or more images of the carton alongside the likelihood of damage and the routing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Nokleby, Deepti Pachauri, Kenneth Zins
  • Patent number: 11697125
    Abstract: An opposed migration classifier classifies particles suspended in a sample fluid that are passed through a classification channel defined by two permeable walls. Sample flow distribution input and output channels are located asymmetrically with respect to a center of the classification channel such that trajectories of the one or more particles in the sample fluid deviate from constant voltage operation trajectories. A cross-flow fluid enters the classification channel through a permeable wall and exits through the other permeable wall. An imposed field, created by a time varying filed imposed in a direction normal to the permeable walls, causes the particles to migrate in a direction opposite to that of the cross-flow fluid, such that the particles travel between the permeable walls. The particles in the sample are classified based on their mobility. The sample fluid enters and exists through or within a threshold distance of the permeable walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Huajun Mai, Richard C. Flagan
  • Patent number: 11697556
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a rail having one or more channels therein and one or more sleds operatively associated with the rail. A sled can include a body and one or more wheels mounted on the body and configured to move through the one or more channels in the rail. A sled can also include a holding device connected to the body. The holding device can be configured to engage a packaging container to move the packaging container along the rail. Multiple sleds can be used to secure a packaging container therebetween and move the packaging container along the rail. The conveyor system may also include a queue system that dynamically moves packaging containers to packaging stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: PACKSIZE LLC
    Inventors: Hanko Kiessner, Thomas Lamb, David Iverson, Rod Gallaway, Brady Sjoblom
  • Patent number: 11691823
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for an adjustable conveyer system. The adjustable system may include one or more conveyor systems, a support structure for a first end of the conveyor system, a support structure for the second end of the conveyor system, and a lift system. The lift system may be actuated to cause the first end of the conveyor system to raise to a height that is higher or lower than the second end of the conveyor system. The adjustable system may be used to distribute packages to containers of various heights and sizes. In one example, the lift system may include a crank shaft. In another example, the lift system may involve a pulley system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raashid Mohammed, Ankit Pandey, Dean Christopher Fullerton, Kevin Shawn Lyons, Terrick Willoughby