Patents Examined by Gregory W. Adams
  • Patent number: 10435964
    Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to a modular gripperhead system for a drilling rig. The system includes a gripper having a first gripper arm and a second opposing gripper arm, each gripper arm having an inwardly facing gripping surface that forms at least a portion of a chamber sized to receive a portion of a cylindrical tubular, wherein the portion of the chamber has a longitudinal axis. The system also includes a grabber having a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm. Each grabber arm may be displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position in a direction along a first axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The first and second grabber arms may be pivotable about a first and second pivot point between an open position sized to permit a portion of a cylindrical tubular to enter between the first and the second grabber arms and a closed position sized to secure a portion of a cylindrical tubular between the first and the second grabber arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Magnuson, Steven K. Deel, Predrag Radovanovic, Djuric Miodrag
  • Patent number: 10421649
    Abstract: A method of providing motion compensation of a subsea package with a synthetic rope comprising attaching the synthetic rope to the subsea package, supporting a first gripper with a wire rope from a winch capable of motion compensation control characteristics and gripping the synthetic rope with the first gripper, supporting a second gripper with a second wire rope, and repeating the following sequence: lowering the first gripper, the synthetic rope, and the subsea package a first distance, gripping the synthetic rope with the second gripper, releasing the first gripper from the synthetic rope, raising the first gripper the first distance, gripping the synthetic rope with the first gripper, releasing the second gripper from the synthetic rope, such that when the subsea package is lowered proximate the subsea landing location the winch capable of operating with motion compensation characteristics can operate to compensate for the vessel motion and smoothly lower the subsea package to the subsea landing location
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Reel Power Licensing Corp.
    Inventor: Benton Frederick Baugh
  • Patent number: 10421630
    Abstract: A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: John W. Brown, Edward F. Houston, Juan A. Roman, Leung M. Shiu, Riley H. Mayhall, Jacob L. Timm, Reza Badri, Thomas A. Hillerich
  • Patent number: 10421564
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Patent number: 10407822
    Abstract: In laundry processing, a conveyor rotates a textile article in a first stage. The article is held while part of the article rests on the conveyor. By conveying while held, the textile article rotates, positioning an edge of the article. In a second stage, the conveyor conveys the article to a clamp. This clamp holds the article while the conveyor reverses direction and a blower attempts to flatten the article if folded. The textile article rotates, positioning the edge of the article to be more parallel with the direction of conveyance. In a third stage, the article is dragged by the edge over a gap where gravity and blowing attempt to flatten the article. In a fourth stage, the flattened article is positioned over a stack. A blower directs air at a center of the article to blow out the corners and assist in maintaining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Stanley G. McCabe
  • Patent number: 10408001
    Abstract: A self contained/self powered hydraulic catwalk is equipped with a slider positioned at the base of a lifting arm. As the lifting arm is elevated to deliver pipe to the drill rig floor, the slider moves the base of the lifting arm toward the drill rig keeping the distal end of the lifting arm in close proximity to the drill rig floor. Conversely, when the lifting arm is lowered, the slider retracts the base of the lifting arm onto the catwalk. By this method it is not necessary to reposition the catwalk after raising or lowering the lifting arm to maintain close proximity to the drill rig. Pipe can then be transported to the drill floor or removed efficiently and safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventors: Max Buchanan, Bryson Davis
  • Patent number: 10411235
    Abstract: A wagon (90b) includes a plurality of horizontal support bars (91f). A separator roll (12b) is stocked while the horizontal support bar is inserted into a core of the separator roll (12b) around which core a separator is rolled. This can prevent deformation and roll misalignment of the stocked separator roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoneyama, Takahiro Matsuo, Daizaburo Yashiki
  • Patent number: 10406048
    Abstract: The dental chair attachment for supporting wheelchairs attaches to the back of a dental chair and reclines a wheelchair when the dental chair is reclined. The wheels of the wheelchair are rolled onto wheel ramps on opposing sides of a back support. Two upper clamps attach the dental chair attachment to the top of the dental chair, and two lower clamps attach the wheelchair to the dental chair attachment. When reclining the dental chair, wheels on the bottom of the back support allow the dental chair attachment to recline simultaneously with the chair by rolling in a direction opposite the dental chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: King Saud University
    Inventor: Atif Ahmed Saleh Alghamdi
  • Patent number: 10399617
    Abstract: A tire carrier assembly is provided and includes a bracket, a tire carrier, a carrier support and a hoist. The carrier support is lockable and unlockable and is configured to support the tire carrier in a stowed position when locked and to swing the tire carrier toward a deployed position when unlocked. The hoist is coupled to the bracket and the carrier support and is configured to normally lock the carrier support and to be selectively actuatable to unlock the carrier support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Luciano L. Oetting
  • Patent number: 10395962
    Abstract: In a substrate arrangement apparatus, a holder elevating mechanism disposes each first substrate between each pair of second substrates, with the first and second substrates being alternately arranged front-to-front and back-to-back. Each substrate is curved in a first radial direction to one side in a thickness direction with a minimum curvature, and curved in a second radial direction orthogonal to the first radial direction to the one side in the thickness direction with a maximum curvature. The first radial direction of the first substrates, each arranged between each pair of the second substrates, is approximately orthogonal to the first radial direction of the second substrates. This improves uniformity in the up-down direction of the distance in the direction of arrangement between the first and second substrates that are alternately arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukiteru Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10395961
    Abstract: A posture changing device changes the posture of a substrate from one of horizontal and vertical postures to the other posture. In the posture changing device, before transfer of the substrate between a vertical holder and a pusher, a controller controls a holder shifting mechanism on the basis of a warped state of the substrate to shift the position in the thickness direction of a horizontal holder by a shift distance from the vertical holder, the shift distance being determined on the basis of the warped state. Thus, it is possible to suitably transfer the substrate between the vertical holder and the pusher, even if the substrate is warped, while preventing the substrate from coming into contact with the horizontal holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukiteru Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10392199
    Abstract: An example pallet auto box with robot palletizer includes a conveyor to move a pallet into a loading area adjacent a robot for loading bags onto the pallet. The example pallet auto box with robot palletizer also includes an auto box having at least one wall, and in an example four walls, that can be raised and lowered. The at least one wall is raised as the robot stacks bags onto the pallet to maintain a border around the edge of the pallet for the bags to be stacked on the pallet. At least one wall opens as a door or gate after the pallet has been loaded with bags so that the loaded pallet can be moved out of the loading area and a next pallet moved into the loading area. The at least one wall is lowered again for stacking bags onto the next pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Nova Packaging, LLC
    Inventor: Wojciech Karpala
  • Patent number: 10384487
    Abstract: There is provided a device for handling tires having an anchor for attaching to a prime mover and a clamping device rotatably mounted to the anchor that rotates relative to the anchor about a rotation axis. The clamping device has a plurality of engagement members connected by a mechanical linkage and a carrying body with a plurality of guides. The weight distribution of the clamping device is balanced about the rotation axis. Each guide carries one of the engagement members and is oriented to allow the engagement members to move perpendicular to the rotation axis between clamping and release positions. The mechanical linkage includes a rotating actuator and controls movement of the engagement members along the guides. The movement of each engagement member is rotationally symmetric about the rotation axis relative to the movement of the other engagement members. The device has an actuator that actuates the mechanical linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Inventor: Darcy Goossen
  • Patent number: 10384917
    Abstract: A power pack [2] is located within a housing [3] on the platform [1] of a wind turbine generator tower. The power pack [2] is supplied from a fuel tank [4]. With the door [6] of the housing [3] open, the power pack [2] may be removed for servicing and repair by using a U-shaped support structure [8] to which an electric motor [11] is mounted. Two support rails [12] permanently located within the housing [3] support the housed power pack [2]. A chain [15] attached to the power pack [2] is driven by the motor [11] to remove the power pack [2] from the housing [3] by sliding the power pack [2]along the support structure [8]. A pulley arrangement reduces the necessary torque. After removing the power pack [2] from the housing [3], a crane [7] is used to lift the power pack [2] from the platform [1] and to lower it down to a sea vessel [17].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S
    Inventors: Morten Frost Hansen, Peter Nordlyng, Mark Ursell-Smith, Kim Christensen, Ken Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10385634
    Abstract: A drill rod handler provides rods to be used to form a drill string in on-shore drilling operations. The drill rod handler includes side arms which are moveable to encourage drill rods to roll towards or away from a center line of the drill rod handler. A working arm is arranged to grasp a centrally located drill rod, and to raise it from a horizontal to a vertical configuration. The working arm may then slew to correctly position the drill rod at the correct location for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ormarc Engineering Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Scott Pover
  • Patent number: 10376948
    Abstract: An apparatus to feed bars is disclosed that comprises a feed device suitable to support a plurality of bars and to make them available to a transfer device. The transfer device is configured to transfer the bars, received from the feed device, toward a delivery zone, and comprises at least one gripping and holding element, configured to take at least one bar from the feed device and to transfer it, by means of rotation around an axis of rotation, toward the delivery zone. The axis of rotation is located, during use, substantially parallel to the longitudinal development of the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: M.E.P. Macchine Elettroniche Piegatrici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Del Fabro
  • Patent number: 10370199
    Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SYMBOTIC CANADA ULC
    Inventors: Marc Ducharme, Jean-Francois Forget, Robert Jodoin, Cédric Kessler, Régis Métivier, Sylvain-Paul Morency
  • Patent number: 10358302
    Abstract: Disclosed is a supply device for supplying cutouts to a machine from an inventory configured in several adjacent stacks of cutouts; the device includes a manipulator to transfer, by batch, the cutouts from the inventory to the machine. This device further includes a pressing unit to compress at least one stack that is adjacent to the one from which the manipulator removes cutouts. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: C.E.R.M.E.X. CONSTRUCTIONS ETUDES ET RECHERCHES DE MATERIELS POUR L'EMBALLAGE D'EXPEDITION
    Inventor: Anthony Gautheron
  • Patent number: 10343856
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a main conveyor configured to carry sheets in a downstream direction, an accumulator section downstream of the main conveyor configured to receive the sheets from the main conveyor, at least one tamping plate in the accumulator section, and at least one linear motor connected to the at least one tamping plate. The at least one linear motor is configured to move the at least one tamping plate back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction to tamp a stack of the sheets in the accumulator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric Stempihar, Eric H. Crowe, Samantha L. J. Armstrong, Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 10329037
    Abstract: An apparatus including a storage tank, a frame positioned at least partially beneath the storage tank, a lever having a first end and a second end pivotally mounted to the frame, a scale system positioned beneath the storage tank, wherein in a first position, the storage tank exerts a force against the scale system, and in a second position, the second end of the lever exerts a force on a bottom of the storage tank such that the storage tank is positioned above, and out of contact with, the scale system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Craig F. Govekar, Rahhali Sanhaji