Patents Examined by Gregory W. Adams
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Patent number: 11661290Abstract: A system for forming horizontally stacked groups of containers includes an infeed screw set, an orienting screw set, and a grouping mechanism. Containers are presented to the infeed screw in a vertical orientation, and are progressed from the infeed screw set to the orienting screw set via a transitioning pocket defined by overlapping pockets of the infeed and orienting screw sets. As containers are progressed through the orienting screw the containers are rotated via a series of orienting pockets to a horizontal orientation and progressed via a series of nesting pockets to form a series of horizontally nested containers. The series is discharged to a grouping mechanism which separates a predefined number of containers from the series to form a horizontally stacked group, which is outfed from the stacking system.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Morrison Timing Screw CompanyInventors: Ryan Finke, Nick Lynn Wilson, Mark Burk, Lee Kuipers, Timothy J. Dupin, Armando Garza, Chris L J Wilson
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Patent number: 11649124Abstract: The invention relates to a device for feeding products in sheets into an insertion device before a digital printer, including a lifting system for a stack of laminar elements, which in turn includes an extraction mechanism for the last board, an insertion system with an advance mechanism, a rotation system for the stack(s), a positioning stop, connected to an advance and reverse mechanism, a squaring and scaling station, able to create a loading and accumulating hopper, and a telescopically-adjustable transportation system, with the capacity to move the previously-scaled sheets until the insertion device is fed.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: European Machinery Engineering Projects, S.L.Inventors: Eduardo Mas Cano, Santiago Mira Verdú
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Patent number: 11642795Abstract: An example apparatus of the present disclosure may include an end effector. The end effector may include a pair of actuator-driven fingers that each include a compliant tip. The compliant tips may be used to scoop underneath items as part of item manipulation.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew D. Marchese, Matthew Michael Budnick, Ennio Claretti, Jude Royston Jonas
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Patent number: 11638404Abstract: Machine suitable for driving posts into the ground, in particular for a vineyard or orchard trellising structure, at predefined locations, with centimetric precision, the machine comprising: an electronic control unit, a GPS sensor, a driving column mounted on a vehicle chassis, via an articulated positioning adjustment system, the column comprising a pole and a slide mounted so as to be able to slide substantially vertically, a driving bell mounted on the slide, a post guiding device, which comprises a gripper mounted on the slide and a guide shoe mounted at the base of the pole, the guide shoe being able to move between a working position and a retracted position, the articulated positioning adjustment system allowing the driving bell and the guiding device to be positioned directly above one of the predefined locations and to drive the post in vertically there.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: VITISATInventors: Olivier Augier, Hervé Colin
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Patent number: 11639638Abstract: A combination unit having an extendable trough to raise a tubular to a rig floor height. There is a raising leg connected with a trough assembly, and a following leg movingly coupled with an end of the trough assembly. The unit is configured to move a power swivel or other miscellaneous tools and equipment to the rig floor without winches or cables.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Inventor: Larry G. Keast
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Patent number: 11632910Abstract: A hay bale lifting and transport device is mounted on a transport vehicle having a cab and having a rear bed area located behind the cab which defines a generally rectangular shaped, exposed top planar surface. The lifting apparatus includes a pair of elongate hay bale spikes affixed to a mounting assembly so that the spikes are spaced apart a fixed distance and are arranged in a plane parallel to one another. The spikes and mounting assembly are received in an opening formed in the rear planar bed of the transport vehicle when the spikes are in a first, fully retracted position, the central axis of each of the spikes being located below the plane of the rear bed. An actuating mechanism acts upon the mounting assembly for moving the pair of spikes around a pivot axis between the fully retracted position and an extended position in which the spikes are arranged to engage a bale of hay.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Inventor: Graham Johnson
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Patent number: 11629017Abstract: A picking facility is realized that can shorten the time required to transfer an article from a first support body to a second support body. Of a plurality of articles 50 supported by the first support body 51, the article 50 located at the highest position and the article 50 whose upper face T1 is present in a range of a set distance D downward from the upper face T1 of the article 50 located at the highest position are set as transfer-target articles 50A, and the control device performs a selection control to preferentially select, from the transfer-target articles 50A, a transfer-target article 50A in the normal orientation SC, and a transfer control to control the transfer device so as to transfer the transfer-target article 50A selected through the selection control from the first support body 51 to the second support body.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Gondoh, Masami Iwai, Atsushi Minoo
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Patent number: 11628993Abstract: An automatic tray loading system and a use method of the same are provided, which includes a stacked tray assembly, including at least one tray which is stacked up, where the at least one tray is provided with several locating slots; a tray lifting platform which includes a tray supporting table being connected with a elevating mechanism; a tray pick and place platform having a working region covers a tray input module, where the tray pick and place platform includes a manipulator which is connected with a multidimensional motion mechanism; and a delivery table including a tray placement plate, where each of the tray placement plate is provided with a groove which is configured to place the at least one layer of trays, and each of the tray placement plates is connected with a linear driving mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignees: Qingdao University of Technology, Ningbo Sanhan Alloy Material Co., Ltd.Inventors: Changhe Li, Yuying Yang, Haogang Li, Liang Luo, Weixi Ji, Binhui Wan, Shuo Yin, Huajun Cao, Bingheng Lu, Lizhi Tang, Xin Cui, Mingzheng Liu, Yanbin Zhang, Jie Xu, Huiming Luo, Haizhou Xu, Min Yang, Huaping Hong, Teng Gao, Wuxing Ma, Shuai Chen
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Patent number: 11623849Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving trailers using a trailer moving apparatus coupled to a forklift is shown and described herein. The method and apparatus for moving trailers uses a trailer moving apparatus engagably coupled to a forklift when lifted off a surface with a plurality of hitches at different heights. The method for moving trailers using a trailer moving apparatus operatively coupled to a forklift tine via a guided channel on a channel member and not requiring an operator to leave the cabin of the forklift during operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: NORDEN MFG LLCInventor: Willard Schlabach
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Patent number: 11618659Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving trailers using a trailer moving apparatus coupled to a forklift is shown and described herein. The method and apparatus for moving trailers uses a trailer moving apparatus engageably coupled to a forklift when lifted off a surface with a plurality of hitches at different heights. The method for moving trailers using a trailer moving apparatus operatively coupled to a forklift tine via a guided channel on a channel member and not requiring an operator to leave the cabin of the forklift during operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: NORDEN MFG LLCInventor: Willard Schlabach
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Patent number: 11619921Abstract: A controller may obtain initial sensing data to determine an estimated weight associated with each initial load of one or more initial loads of material carried by an implement. The controller may identify an estimated weigh accuracy metric associated with each initial load and an estimated weight accuracy metric associated with a final load to be carried by the implement. The controller may determine a target weight for the final load based on the estimated weights of the one or more initial loads, the estimated weight accuracy metrics of the one or more initial loads, or the estimated weight accuracy metric associated with the final load. The controller may obtain final sensing data to determine an estimated weight associated with the final load and may cause the implement to perform one or more actions based on the estimated weight of the final load and the target weight.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Shaun D. Currier
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Patent number: 11613433Abstract: The invention relates to a palletizing apparatus comprising a set-down belt which has a circulating conveyor belt that defines a transport face for transporting article layers, and a compressing apparatus which has at least one front-side stop and one rear-side stop, wherein the set-down belt is movable in a longitudinal direction (X) relative to the compressing apparatus between a first longitudinal position, in which the transport face is arranged in a manner offset in the longitudinal direction (X) with respect to the compressing apparatus, and a second longitudinal position, in which an article layer located on the transport face is arranged between the stops in the longitudinal direction (X). Here, the set-down belt comprises a first deflection roller that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation, wherein a diameter of the first deflection roller is at most 2% of the width of the conveyor belt.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Koerber Supply Chain Automation Eisenberg GmbHInventors: Christopher Blasius, Karlheinz Stollhof
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Patent number: 11608684Abstract: A mast for a drilling machine is disclosed. The mast includes a frame assembly defining an inner volume to accommodate a drilling assembly of the drilling machine. The frame assembly includes a first beam, a second beam, a plurality of links, a plurality of reinforcement members, and a plate, that combinedly form a truss. The plate defines an opening to facilitate access to the inner volume of the frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: Sravana K. Kanchi, Andrew C. Barber, Rafal T. Myslak
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Patent number: 11603225Abstract: An article processing apparatus includes: a configuration determination unit configured to determine a configuration of at least one transport unit including articles, and stacked article groups each including a pallet, and at least one of the articles placed on the pallet, wherein the at least one of the articles is placed on the pallet in a manner that allows a pallet of another article group to be placed thereon, excluding uppermost one of the stacked article groups; a palletizing mechanism configured to place the at least one of the articles on the pallet so as to form each of the article groups included in the transport unit whose configuration is determined by the configuration determination unit; and a stacking mechanism configured to stack the article groups formed by the palletizing mechanism so as to form the transport unit determined by the configuration determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazutoshi Ito, Osamu Futami, Tadasuke Ogawa, Atsushi Minoo, Yusuke Fujii
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Patent number: 11598464Abstract: A delivery assembly for a crop input delivery system. The delivery system includes a boom adapted to be supported at a proximal end from a mobile vehicle, the mobile vehicle holding a supply of the crop input, the boom supporting a conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with the supply of crop input. The delivery system further includes a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler is supported on a distal end of the boom and is coupled to the conduit. The second coupler is in fluid communication with a storage tank disposed on the implement, the second coupler configured to fluidly couple with the first coupler. A clamping assembly releasably couples the first and second couplers in fluid engagement.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: 360 Yield Center, LLCInventors: Nowell Moore, Justin Koch, Jesse Kaiser, Nathan Bidner
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Patent number: 11596106Abstract: A supply apparatus for supplying wrapping material to a wrapper inlet of a baling chamber, in which a bale is to be wrapped. A reservoir supplies the wrapping material to an upper driven roller forming a lower part of the wrapper inlet. The wrapping material is guided to the wrapper inlet from above the wrapper inlet. A displaceable supply unit is located between the reservoir and the upper driven roller, the supply unit being moveable between a baling position and a wrapping position about a pivot axis located above the wrapper inlet. A free end of the wrapping material outside of the baling chamber is protected by the displaceable supply unit from air turbulence during operation of the baling apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: AGCO International GmbHInventors: Malte Cornelius Schlichting, Harald Reupke, Christian Adam
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Patent number: 11591173Abstract: To reduce, at the time of sheet replenishment, breakage of a floating regulation member that regulates floating of a sheet floated by air blowing in a sheet storage apparatus that loosen stored sheets by means of air blowing. Air is blown to sheets stored in a storage part to loosen the sheets. One of a pair of side regulation members for regulating both ends of the sheets stored in the storage part has a floating regulation member for regulating floating of a sheet floated by means of air blowing. The floating regulation member is configured to be turnable in a sheet stacking direction about a rotation axis provided to one of the side regulation members on the side at which the floating regulation member is provided. A load applied to the floating regulation member differs between when the floating regulation member is turned upward and when it is turned downward.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.Inventor: Kazunori Hatakawa
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Patent number: 11584605Abstract: A method moves a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm to grip the stack of printed products and the stack of products selectively being turned. The method includes pivoting the stack of products through an effective angle ?1< >180° and subsequently pivoting the stack through an effective angle ?2=180°??1 or pivoting the stack back through an effective angle ?2=??1. This method of moving stacks of products is performed in an automated way and in particular of depositing them in a turned or unturned arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Herbert Ackermann, Udo Ganter, Martin Haupt-Terlau, Joachim Krumma, Gerhard Lubberger
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Patent number: 11585957Abstract: Systems and methods for automated security inspection and routing of in-transit objects are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of security screening devices are provided, each operable to output screening data of an in-transit object, including a first screening device located in a sealed environment of a vehicle for transporting the object towards a conveying system, including one or more measuring devices operable to measure screening parameters of the object when located in the sealed environment, and a second screening device in combination with conveying and routing components of the conveying system used to transport said objects from an ingress point through a conveyor junction to reach the second screening device.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: International Consolidated Airlines Group, S.A.Inventors: Daniel Jobling, Glenn Morgan, Harvey Tate
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Patent number: 11585165Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus, for handling drill tubes on a drilling platform, has an upper guide member 100 comprising a retention head mounted on an arm. The arm can extend telescopically so as to position it to allow the retention head to engage a drill tube for placement in and removal from a rack 230.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2018Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Oiltech Automation LimitedInventor: Brendan Larkin