Patents Examined by Joseph A. Dillon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11918994
    Abstract: Sample contamination is suppressed by strengthening the air barrier of a work opening portion. A safety cabinet includes: a work room; a front surface door covering a part of a front opening portion of the work room; and a work opening portion on a lower side of the front surface door allowing a worker to work with his or her hand in. An intake port suctions air in the work room and outside air through the work opening portion on a front surface side of a workbench in a lower portion of the work room. A straightening plate drawing an air flow and a linear light source are provided on the work room side of the front surface door and above a front portion of the work room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsumura, Takeshi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11917936
    Abstract: An agitating system of an agricultural system includes a brace configured to couple to a sub-hopper of the agricultural system and a support configured to engage the brace and to support a shaft within the sub-hopper. The support includes a support piece having a first portion configured to receive the shaft and the brace has a recess configured to receive the first portion of the support piece while the support is in an installed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jesse Blair Pidwerbesky
  • Patent number: 11897704
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for a stopping device that is resistant to forces in a first direction and compliant with forces in a second direction. The stopping device may be implemented in a roller top to restrict undesired horizontal movement of a payload being transported across the roller top. In some embodiments, the roller top can be implemented on a mobile robot to transport a payload between destinations. The stopping device can include a plurality of linkages to engage the stopping device and reduce forces applied to the stopping device by the payload. The stopping device, in an engaged position, may limit undesired horizontal movement of the payload. Further, the stopping device, in the engaged position, may respond to vertical forces applied to the stopping device by transitioning from the engaged position to a disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Dunten, Wai Leong Yeo
  • Patent number: 11897709
    Abstract: A vacuum-type powder transfer system capable of quantitatively supplying a constant amount of powder in a wide range from a small amount to a large amount, and a vacuum-type powder transfer method using the vacuum-type powder transfer system are disclosed. In an aspect, the vacuum-type powder transfer system includes a storage part configured to store powder, one or more chamber parts configured to accommodate the powder transferred from the storage part, a hopper part disposed to control fluid communication with the one or more chamber parts, and configured to accommodate the powder transferred from the storage part, and a vacuum pressure forming part configured to provide vacuum pressure to the one or more chamber parts, wherein the powder is split and supplied to the one or more chamber parts or the hopper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SK ON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Mok Kim, Ji Yun Yang
  • Patent number: 11897708
    Abstract: A workstation includes a housing and a pneumatic tube port sized and shaped to connect to tubing of a pneumatic tube delivery system. The workstation includes a carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism coupling to the pneumatic tube port and having an outlet and a slide plate movable from a position opening the outlet to a position closing the outlet. The carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism further including a dispatch arm for loading an outbound carrier for transportation from the workstation through the pneumatic tube delivery system to a further workstation. The workstation further comprises an equipment storage compartment adjacent to the carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism and a bin at the bottom of the housing sized and shaped to receive and store the inbound carriers in combination with a user interface cabinet housing a user interface apparatus and a space for supporting stored carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: PEVCO SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Dahl, Andrey Jasiukaitis, Chad Schneider, Joseph Gaultney, Charles Cateora
  • Patent number: 11891255
    Abstract: A fluid control system in pneumatic conveying ducts of powdered or granular material, comprising: a supply source of a pressurized gas for transporting said powdered or granular material; an injection line of said gas to put said source in fluid communication with a conveying duct inside which the material is conveyed; a self-regulating pressure valve arranged on the injection line between the source and said duct; a control member of the self-regulating valve to provide a control signal to said valve representing a pressure value, said valve maintaining the gas flow supplied in said duct constant; and a flow and flow rate meter, arranged on the injection line upstream of the valve to transmit a flow and flow rate value to said control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NTE HOLDING S.R.L.
    Inventors: Massimo Congedi, Per Magnus Westby, Fabio Novelli
  • Patent number: 11878879
    Abstract: A dry granular material transfer system and method for transfer of granular material such as sand in a dry state through a hose using pressurized air. On a base platform, a conveyor subsystem moves granular material placed on a lower portion to a higher portion while separating clumped material and allowing rocks and debris to fall away, spreading the granular material in a thin layer for ejection at the highest level. A containment subsystem receives granular material and contains the downward fall of material. A portioning subsystem has a turntable with blow-through chambers which receive granular material and move into line with an air inflow tube and air-material outflow tube, and the air-material mixture is blown through the air-material outflow tube and through a transfer hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel E. Crawford
  • Patent number: 11866269
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for receiving a plurality of objects from an elevated trailer of a tractor trailer. The system includes a collection conveyor extending between a base end and a coupled end, the coupled end being rotatably coupled to an evacuation conveyor, said collection conveyor including an object facing surface between the base end and the coupled end for receiving the plurality of objects, said collection conveyor being rotatably adjustable with respect to the evacuation conveyor at the coupled end, and both the evacuation conveyor and the coupled end of the collection conveyor being elevationally adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Allen, Benjamin Cohen, John Richard Amend, Jr., Joseph Romano
  • Patent number: 11858757
    Abstract: In a granular material supply system including a tank that stores granular material, a carrier line through which the granular material flowing out of the tank is carried to a carrier destination, and a cutout line that connects the tank and the carrier line and through which the granular material flowing out of the tank is supplied to the carrier line, a control device includes a density control unit configured to control a density of the granular material on a downstream side of a junction of the cutout line and the carrier line to a set value predetermined and a flow rate control unit configured to control a flow rate of the granular material to be supplied to the carrier destination through the carrier line to a command value instructed by the carrier destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaharu Hiroe, Kazunari Ide, Akihiko Saito, Kei Moriyama
  • Patent number: 11840407
    Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that allows for easier replacement of the belt cleaner blades from under a conveyor belt. In one aspect the assembly includes a cartridge assembly configured for connection with at least one belt cleaner blade assembly and a support assembly configured to support the cartridge assembly across a transverse width of the conveyor belt. A releasable connection between the cartridge assembly and the support assembly is configured to be sheltered from dust and debris. The releasable connection may be disposed within a chamber formed by the engaging portions of the cartridge and support assemblies. The releasable connection can be released by removing a longitudinally oriented rod member that extends along a length of the cartridge and support assemblies. The support assembly may include a secondary cartridge support for easing installation and removal of the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Joseph Snow, Brian Wood
  • Patent number: 11839174
    Abstract: A product delivery conduit for an agricultural product hopper assembly includes an inlet segment and an outlet segment. The inlet segment is configured to receive agricultural product from an inlet conduit, the outlet segment is configured to output the agricultural product to a storage area within a hopper of the agricultural product hopper assembly, the outlet segment is configured to be oriented substantially vertically while the agricultural product hopper assembly is in a working position, the inlet segment and the outlet segment are configured to position an outlet of the product delivery conduit above the storage area while the agricultural product hopper assembly is in a non-working position, and the outlet segment is configured to be oriented downwardly while the agricultural product hopper assembly is in the non-working position to enable the agricultural product to flow into the storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Chad Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 11840409
    Abstract: A pneumatic delivery system includes a capsule. The capsule includes a package receptacle. A pneumatic tube includes a plurality of entry ports and a plurality of exit ports. The plurality of entry ports are configured to receive the capsule for transport. The plurality of exit ports are configured to remove the capsule from the pneumatic tube. At least one of the exit ports is located in a personal residence. A compressed air pump is configured to advance the capsule through the pneumatic tube. A capsule location system is configured to determine a location of the capsule with respect to the pneumatic tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Derrick Bliss
  • Patent number: 11832549
    Abstract: An exemplary diverter valve generally includes a shell, a pipe, and a handle. The shell includes a body extending in a longitudinal direction, a shell inlet port, a shell outlet port, and a positioning slot formed in the body. The pipe is seated in the body for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, and includes a first passage and a second passage. The handle is connected to the pipe through the positioning slot, and is operable to move the pipe relative to the shell between a first position in which the shell inlet port is connected with the shell outlet port via the first passage, and a second position in which the second passage is connected with the shell inlet port and the shell outlet port is disconnected from the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Luc Janelle, David L. Steinlage, Ean M. Bush
  • Patent number: 11833951
    Abstract: A truck for carrying and dispensing material includes a frame, a hopper mounted on the frame and having an opening along a lower end portion of the hopper, and a conveyor positioned underneath the hopper, wherein the conveyor comprises a conveyor belt and first and second side walls attached to opposing longitudinal side edge portions of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Conveyor Application Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Arlen Rexius, David Looney, Jack Leroy Fanning
  • Patent number: 11827465
    Abstract: A distribution device can be used to distribute items in a container. The items can fall off of a chute into the interior of the container. Some of the items may contact the distribution device. The items that contact the distribution can have their trajectories changed prior to falling into the container. The distribution device can more evenly distribute the items in the container than in the absence of the distribution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: German Valle Gomez, Gines Garcia Garcia
  • Patent number: 11827249
    Abstract: A system for transporting one or more items is provided. The system includes: a transportation tube disposed at least partially underground or at least partially above ground; a transportation pod to secure items therein for transport; a transportation actuator to propel the transportation pod through the transportation tube, the transportation actuator including one or more pumps coupled to the transportation tube and configured to pressurize a fluid medium through the transportation tube such that the pressurized fluid medium propels the transportation pod through the transportation tube; a first access point located proximate a first end of the transportation tube; and a second access point located proximate a second end of the transportation tube. Each of the first and second access points includes an opening configured to allow the transportation pod to be received into or removed from the transportation tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cooley Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Maryam Cooley
  • Patent number: 11825764
    Abstract: A collection device has a chute supported below the calibration opening on pneumatic delivery lines through which seed can be dispensed during calibration of a seed meter below a seed tank of an agricultural air seeder implement. The chute has a top opening at a top side in alignment with the calibration opening thereabove so as to receive seed discharged through the calibration opening into the chute through the top opening and a bottom that slopes downwardly to one end locating a discharge opening through which collected seed is dispensed. The chute is supported on bag mounts of the implement from which a flexible calibration bag is otherwise suspended. A gate is operably associated with the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Wilhelm Martens
  • Patent number: 11820602
    Abstract: The vibration feeder has a drive unit comprising a vibration drive, a carrier arrangement comprising a feeding element for the material to be conveyed and a control for the vibration drive, wherein an acceleration sensor is arranged on the drive unit, which when the vibration feeder is operating, detects the actual acceleration of the drive unit, and wherein the control is configured to use the actual acceleration signal of the acceleration sensor for generating a regulating variable for the vibration drive such that the carrier arrangement vibrates essentially within its resonance frequency (fres). This makes it possible, during operation, to detect the acceleration of a drive unit of the vibration feeder and to generate therefrom a regulating variable for a vibration drive such that a carrier arrangement of the vibration feeder vibrates closer to its resonance frequency (fres) or is brought back again to the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: K-TRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Ludescher, Helfenstein Urs
  • Patent number: 11815310
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery system is integrated with a fluff transfer system. The hydrocarbon recovery system is configured for contacting a wet polymer fluff with a purge gas to provide a purged polymer fluff and an overhead stream, and separating a solids stream, a recovered hydrocarbon stream, and a recovered purge gas from the overhead stream. The polymer fluff transfer system is configured to receive the purged polymer fluff from the hydrocarbon recovery system and transport the purged polymer fluff in the fluff transfer system via circulation of a fluff transfer gas. The hydrocarbon recovery system and the fluff transfer system are integrated by utilizing fluff transfer gas from the fluff transfer system as the purge gas in the hydrocarbon recovery system and/or by utilizing at least a portion of the recovered purge gas from the hydrocarbon recovery system in the fluff transfer system as the fluff transfer gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Reza Khankal, Enrique Mancillas, Kamaljeet Kaur, Hetian Li
  • Patent number: 11813971
    Abstract: A live-bottom trailer having a conveyor system. The conveyor system including: a frame; a conveyor mounted to the frame and having a carrying surface and an opposite rear surface, the conveyor operable to move the carrying surface between a first end of the live-bottom trailer and a second end of the live-bottom trailer while the rear surface passes over a support surface of the frame; and a pressurized air system operable to direct pressurized air at the rear surface of the conveyor to reduce friction between the support surface of the frame and the rear surface of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TROUT RIVER INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Harvey Stewart, Nico Den Hertog