Patents Examined by John J Norton
  • Patent number: 11917742
    Abstract: In a method for a cooktop, in particular for producing and/or operating the cooktop, which has at least one variable cooking surface, the cooking surface is partitioned in an operating mode along a partitioning direction into a plurality of heating zones to which at least one heating parameter is assigned in each case in a location-dependent manner in order to heat a cooking utensil that is deposited on the heating zone. In order to ensure flexible production and/or flexible operation of the cooktop, during partitioning of the cooking surface into the heating zones in at least one peripheral region of the cooking surface, at least one cooking utensil characteristic is taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Alberto Ballester Herrero, Eduardo Imaz Martinez, Antonio Muñoz Fumanal, Esther Ondiviela Serrano, Daniel Palacios Tomas, Jorge Pascual Aza, David Valeau Martin
  • Patent number: 11911852
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the analysis of energy beams in systems for the additive manufacture of components (70) by means of layered solidification of a construction material (55) by an energy beam (30). The invention enables a determination of position-related beam data directly with respect to the processing point during the machining process. An additive manufacturing system includes a beam deflecting device (40), a processing plane (45), and a layer applicator (60). The device according to the invention comprises a movable beam barrier (17), a movable beam sampling module (20) and a measuring device (10) with a radiation detector (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Primes GmbH Meßtechnik für die Produktion mit Laserstrahlung
    Inventors: Reinhard Kramer, Otto Märten, Stefan Wolf, Roman Niedrig
  • Patent number: 11915850
    Abstract: A coil assembly for controlling a magnetic field in a plasma chamber is provided herein. In some embodiments, the coil assembly may include a mandrel including an annular body that includes at least one upper body coolant channel and at least one lower body coolant channel, and a plurality of cooling fins disposed circumferentially about an outer diameter of the body and radially outward from the outer diameter, an inner electromagnetic cosine-theta (cos ?) coil ring including a first set of inner coils wrapped around the plurality of cooling fins in the body and configured to generate a magnetic field in a first direction, an outer electromagnetic cosine-theta (cos ?) coil ring including a second set of outer coils wrapped around the plurality of cooling fins and configured to generate a magnetic field in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard C. Fovell, Kartik Ramaswamy, Larry D. Elizaga
  • Patent number: 11896015
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a wrapped food product includes a conveyor under continuous motion. A wrapper is positioned over the moving conveyor. The apparatus includes a filling mechanism that conveys a filling from a hopper to a mold and a piston that pushes the filling from the mold to the wrapper. The apparatus also includes a folding mechanism that folds a side of the wrapper over a portion of the filling, and a second plate that folds the other side of the wrapper over another portion of the filling. A stamper is positioned over the conveyor, pressing the folded wrapper onto the filling. A flipping mechanism of the apparatus includes a set of guide plates and a prong that rotates the filling and a portion of the wrapper around the filling on itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MingsBings Inc.
    Inventor: Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 11890808
    Abstract: A method and a system for digital image correlation and thermal monitoring during directed energy deposition are provided. The method and the system include global off-axis 3D mapping of surfaces features at high frame rates using the natural surface roughness of the additive build. Infrared thermography is projected onto these surface features to record the thermo-mechanical history of the finished component. As set forth herein, the method and the system provide a low-cost solution to monitoring and optimizing the unique temporal artifacts induced by complex scan strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: James Haley, Ryan Dehoff, Vincent C. Paquit, Samuel C. Leach
  • Patent number: 11882961
    Abstract: A cooking device is provided. In one embodiment, the cooking device includes a base having a recessed cavity arranged in a top surface. The cooking device can also include a heating element arranged within the recessed cavity of the base. A first bracket can be positioned on the base, and a cooking plate can be positioned on the top surface of the base. A lid assembly can be provided and can include a cover plate configured to be removably positioned over the cooking plate. The cover plate can include a plurality of through-holes arranged therein. A second bracket can be positioned on the cover plate and it can be configured to couple to the first bracket such that the lid assembly is connected to and rotatable relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Simon Christopher Smith, Nathaniel R. Lavins
  • Patent number: 11883912
    Abstract: A welding power supply device includes an inverter for converting DC power into AC power outputted to a welding load, and a voltage circuit for superimposing a restriking voltage on an output to the welding load when the polarity of output current of the inverter switches. The voltage circuit includes a restriking capacitor charged with the re-striking voltage, a charging circuit to charge the capacitor with the restriking voltage, and a discharging circuit to discharge the voltage in the capacitor. The charging circuit includes a DC power supply and a booster to boost DC voltage from the DC power supply. The charging circuit charges the restriking capacitor in first and second states. In the first state, the DC voltage from the DC power supply is directly applied to the re-striking capacitor. In the second state, DC voltage boosted by the booster is applied to the restriking capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DAIHEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikanori Takami, Hikaru Mizushima, Ichiro Umezawa
  • Patent number: 11883909
    Abstract: Systems and methods to design part weld processes are disclosed. An example system for monitoring welding of components of a workpiece with multiple arc welds in a fixture includes: one or more weld sensors configured to collect data associated with the multiple arc welds; and a computing device configured to: access a weld program; provide weld instructions defined in the weld program and associated with a sequence of welds for the workpiece, the weld instructions comprising a visual slide including an image of the workpiece and a visual indication of a first location of a first weld; based on the weld program, display the visual slide at a first zoom level; based on the weld program, display the visual slide at a second zoom level; and monitor first weld data from the one or more sensors during a first weld to determine a status of the first weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Ivkovich, Leland Falde, Vincent Romano, Adam Pliska, Todd McEllis, Ben Buhr
  • Patent number: 11877689
    Abstract: A magnetic device includes a cup body, a tea strainer and a cup lid, the cup lid is provided with a separation mechanism for tea strainer including a stressed block and a separation magnet, which is mounted on the stressed block, the stressed block under stress changes the relative position between the separation magnet and the cup lid, the tea strainer is provided with a magnetically attractive metal block and is attracted to the center of the bottom of the cup lid by attraction force between the separation magnet and the magnetically attractive metal block, the separation magnet moves away from the magnetically attractive metal block, such that the attraction force between them is decreased, when it is less than the gravity of the tea strainer, the tea strainer falls down to the bottom of the cup body under gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Yisheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11877699
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a food processor (10). It is described to hold (110) a first food product in a food chamber, wherein food processing means are configured to process at least the first food product in the food chamber. An ingredient identification module determines (120) if either sucrose or fructose is the dominant sugar in the first food product to be processed. A processing unit determines (130) a processing protocol for processing the first food product, wherein determination of the processing protocol comprises utilization of the determined dominant sugar in the first food product. The food processing means processes (140) at least the first food product in the food chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jiani Tang, Jingwei Tan
  • Patent number: 11871871
    Abstract: Portable cooking stations having interlocking sear grates and griddles are disclosed. An example portable cooking station includes a sear grate and a griddle. The griddle is configured to be removably interlocked to the sear grate in a side-by-side arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLC
    Inventors: Cassandra A.S. McVey, Romualdo Sonny Siazon, Brett Jessogne
  • Patent number: 11871760
    Abstract: A system that includes a plurality of banana containers is provided. Each banana container has a first container end to receive an unpeeled banana and a second container end. The system includes a gas dispensing regulator connected to a plurality of banana containers. The gas dispensing regulator includes a plurality of gas meters having a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of banana containers. A corresponding meter is connected to the second container end of a corresponding banana container to dispense a corresponding amount of ripening gas into the corresponding banana container. The system can limit the pressure of the ripening gas in the banana container using the closing device to vary the ripening rate of the bananas. This can avoid spoiling the taste of the bananas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Alex J. Pollack
  • Patent number: 11871867
    Abstract: Containers are provided for use with a beverage dispensing device. The container can include a housing defining a hollow interior and having an opening leading to the hollow interior, a cover coupled disposed over the opening, an inlet leading to the hollow interior, and an outlet spaced apart from the interior. The inlet and outlet can each have valves movable between open and closed positions for allowing fluid flow into and out of the hollow interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Simon Lewis Bilton, Joseph Butler, Timothy Christopher Stubbs
  • Patent number: 11872655
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laser processing device including a laser light source configured to output laser light, a converging unit configured to converge the laser light toward a first surface to form a converging point, a camera configured to image reflected light of the laser light from the first surface, a spatial light modulator for modulating the laser light according to a modulation pattern, and a controller configured to execute acquisition processing of applying the laser light to the first surface by controlling the laser light source and imaging the reflected light by controlling the camera to acquire a reflectance of the first surface for the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventor: Junji Okuma
  • Patent number: 11858202
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an additive manufacturing system for forming a part using a powder material. In one embodiment the system makes use of a primary heat generating subsystem to generate a fusing beam for heating and fusing at least one of select portions of a powder layer, or an entire area of a powder layer, deposited on a build plate. The system also incorporates a beam steering subsystem for steering the fusing beam over the powder layer. A supplemental heating subsystem is used to generate a wide area beam to heat a portion of the powder layer either prior to fusing, along with the fusing operation, or subsequent to fusing of the powder with the fusing beam. The wide area beam has an intensity which is insufficient to fuse the powder, and alters a microstructure of the powder layer as the powder layer is at least one of fused or as it cools, to thus relieve stress in the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: William Smith, Gabriel M. Guss, Manyalibo Joseph Matthews, Joseph T. McKeown, John Roehling
  • Patent number: 11858068
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to improved laser metal deposition heads. Various embodiments may include a main body, a nozzle seat, a powder flow guide, an inner nozzle, an outer nozzle, and a coolant sleeve. In some embodiments, powder inlets in the main body are angled relative to a primary axis of the laser metal deposition head. In some embodiments, the nozzle seat includes a plurality of powder distribution channels that are also angled relative to the primary axis of the laser metal deposition head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: FormAlloy Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Riemann
  • Patent number: 11859828
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a toaster oven including: a cooking chamber; an air passage; and a fan. The cooking chamber includes a side wall and a top wall. One of the side wall and the top wall is provided with an air inlet in communication with a cooking space of the cooking chamber. The other of the side wall and the top wall is provided with an air outlet in communication with the cooking space. The air passage between the air inlet and the air outlet is disposed outside the cooking chamber. The fan blows air from the air inlet to the air outlet through the air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Steelstone Group LLC
    Inventors: Binyumen Itzkowitz, Kalman M. Wertzberger
  • Patent number: 11850682
    Abstract: Laser welding methods include focusing laser radiation onto a first metal sheet disposed on a metal part, optionally with one or more intervening metal sheets therebetween. The laser radiation is steered to trace at least one spiral path to spot-weld together the metal parts. The laser radiation includes a center beam and an annular beam to maintain a stable keyhole. One method is tailored to weld aluminum parts, e.g., with high gas content and/or dissimilar compositions, and the laser radiation traces first an outward spiral path and then an inward spiral path. The center beam is pulsed during one segment of the inward spiral path. Another method is tailored to weld steel or copper parts having a coating at an interface therebetween, and the laser radiation traces an inward spiral path. The interface may be a zero-gap interface, or a non-zero gap may exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Corelase Oy
    Inventors: Matti Närhi, Henri Pajukoski
  • Patent number: 11849527
    Abstract: An oven appliance for providing convection and microwave heating includes a cabinet having a chamber positioned within the cabinet. The chamber is configured for receipt of food items for cooking and has a plurality of walls including a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and opposing sidewalls defining the chamber. At least one of the plurality of walls defines a plurality of apertures and a first duct in fluid communication with the chamber through the plurality of apertures. The oven appliance also includes at least one convection heating element for heating the chamber. Further, the oven appliance includes a convection fan in fluid communication with the first duct. The convection fan is operable to cause air to flow out of the apertures. Moreover, the oven appliance includes a convection motor having a motor shaft. The convection motor is operably coupled to the convection fan for rotating the convection fan about the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Seog-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 11847010
    Abstract: An appliance and methods for operating the appliance in a safety-critical operation are provided. The appliance and methods for operating the appliance include features that provide safe and intuitive ways to initiate and cancel safety-critical operations performed by the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Gottsov, Steven Michael Recio, Craig Edward Wicke