Patents Examined by Justin C Dodson
  • Patent number: 12161246
    Abstract: A beverage machine having a heater arranged to receive unheated liquid and deliver heated liquid to a dispensing station to form a beverage, and to receive unheated air and deliver heated air to the dispensing station to preheat portions of the dispensing station before forming a beverage. The machine may be arranged to deliver heated air to the dispensing station only if a temperature at the dispensing station is below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianming Huang, Blair Mikkelsen, Roger Johnson, Carl Gottfried Kammer
  • Patent number: 12128506
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to welding and, more specifically, to welding wires for arc welding, such as Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) or Flux Core Arc Welding (FACW). In one embodiment, a tubular welding wire includes a sheath and a core, and the core comprises a rare earth silicide component (cerium, lanthanum, or a combination thereof). The core may also comprise an organic stabilizer component, a carbon component, and an agglomerate. The organic stabilizer component may comprise an organic molecule or organic polymer bound to one or more Group I or Group II metals. The carbon component may comprise graphite, graphene, carbon black, lamp black, carbon nanotubes, diamond, or a combination thereof. The agglomerate may comprise oxides of one or more Group I or Group II metals, titanium, and manganese.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: HOBART BROTHERS LLC
    Inventors: Steven Edward Barhorst, Mario Anthony Amata, Kevin Pagano
  • Patent number: 12127706
    Abstract: A two-stage water boiler for a hot beverage vending machine, comprising a storage water heater and a continuous-flow water heater fluidically connectable in series; wherein the storage water heater is configured to contain water at atmospheric pressure, and the continuous-flow water heater is configured to be supplied, through a water pump, with water drawn from the storage water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: EVOCA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Magno
  • Patent number: 12125619
    Abstract: A self-limiting heater and method for building the self-limiting heater are disclosed. The self-limiting heater consists of a resistor and a PTC resistor coupled together in series with a power supply. Both resistive devices have good thermal coupling. The resistor has a minimal resistance change over changes in temperature while the resistance of the PTC resistor increases with an increase in temperature. The ohmic resistance ratio between the resistor and the PTC may be used to adjust the heater characteristics and limit the characteristic sharpness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Efrem Fesshaie, Paulius Kabisius, Jianhua Chen, Rimantas Misevicius
  • Patent number: 12103790
    Abstract: A flotation conveyance apparatus according to an embodiment conveys a substrate while floating the substrate by ejecting a gas to a lower surface of the substrate. The flotation conveyance apparatus includes an upper plate disposed on the substrate side including a plurality of ejecting ports for ejecting the gas and a lower plate disposed under the upper plate. Flow-paths for supplying the gas to the plurality of ejecting ports are provided on at least one of the upper plate and the lower plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: JSW AKTINA SYSTEM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Fuji, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Nagai
  • Patent number: 12098866
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a tubular thick film heater protection apparatus, including: an upper tube, where the upper tube includes an upper tube side surface and a toroid; an outer ring surface of the toroid is integrally connected to an upper portion of the upper tube side surface, a flange downwardly extends along an inner ring surface of the toroid, and a space between the flange and an inner side wall of the upper tube side surface forms an upper groove; and a base, where the base is provided with a lower groove, the base is provided with an elastic contact piece, and a terminal contact of the elastic contact piece can be connected to an electrode through contact; and the base is provided with a wiring terminal. The present invention further discloses a tubular thick film heater with a protection function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: HEATING LEADER ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Shaoling Du
  • Patent number: 12092321
    Abstract: A reservoir component of an electronic vaping device includes an outer housing, an air inlet, a vapor outlet, an air passage communicating with the air inlet and the vapor outlet, and a reservoir. A magnetic, electrically conductive and resistive heater element is located adjacent the air passage. The heater element is configured to be in electrical communication with an alternator of a power supply component. A wick is in communication with the reservoir and is configured to draw pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir toward the heater element. The heater element is configured to heat pre-vapor formulation to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation and form a vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Peter Lipowicz
  • Patent number: 12078418
    Abstract: Described herein is a sidewall suitable for use in a metallurgical furnace, and metallurgical furnace having the same. The sidewall has an upper wall, an outer wall coupled to an outer side of the upper wall, and extending downward from the outer wall. A sloped wall is coupled to an inner side of the upper wall. The sloped wall extends downward and inward from the upper wall. The sloped wall has a first surface facing the outer wall and a second surface facing a centerline of the sidewall. A spray cooling assembly is disposed between the sloped wall and the outer wall. The spray cooling assembly is configured to spray coolant on the first surface of the sloped wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Systems Spray-Cooled, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 12070931
    Abstract: A sheet includes a pseudo-sheet structure including a plurality of linear-bodies with a volume resistivity R of from 1.0×10?7 ?cm to 1.0×10?1 extending in one direction, aligned parallel to one another, and spaced apart from one another, satisfies the relation: L/D?3, wherein D represents the diameter of the linear-bodies, and L represents the spacing between adjacent ones of the linear-bodies, and also satisfies the relation: (D2/R)×(1/L)?0.003, wherein D represents the diameter of the linear-bodies, L represents the spacing between adjacent ones of the linear-bodies, R represents the volume resistivity of the linear-bodies, and D and L are in units of cm. A heating element and a heating device each include the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignees: LINTEC CORPORATION, LINTEC OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masaharu Ito, Kanzan Inoue
  • Patent number: 12059754
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manually setting up a wire drive assembly of a welding power supply and automatically setting up welding power supply parameters. A drive roll is configured with multiple grooves for receiving multiple wires of different types and/or different diameters. A sensor can detect the configuration of the drive roll such as, for example, being configured to receive a particular wire type with a particular diameter in a particular groove, by detect a distance to the drive roll. The welding power supply can use this information to automatically set the wire speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Adam Richard Schmitz, Chris J. Roehl, Scott Ryan Rozmarynowski, Zachary William MacMullen, Lauren Goulet
  • Patent number: 12063733
    Abstract: A household oven includes a cooking chamber (6), a light source mount (31), an LED light source (20) arranged on the light source mount (31) to shine light into THE cooking chamber (6), a heat sink (16), and a heat pipe (15) thermally coupling the LED light source (20) to the heat sink (16). This design allows to carry off heat from the LED light source (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: V-ZUG AG
    Inventors: Irina Steier, Raphael Lindegger, Andreas Ranalder
  • Patent number: 12049124
    Abstract: A PTC heating assembly includes a heating cell comprising a PTC element and conductor elements electrically abutting the PTC element. The heating cell is accommodated in a heater housing. The heater housing is manufactured with undersize relative to the heating cell so that the heating cell, after insertion into the heater housing, is held under pretension between mutually opposing walls of the heater housing. Accordingly, in the method according to the invention, the heater housing is elastically widened when the heating cell is inserted into the heater housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Klingebiel, Dietmar Wunstorf, Karsten Bolz
  • Patent number: 12016484
    Abstract: A froth heater can include an outer case defining an inner cavity, an inlet in fluid communication with the inner cavity, and an outlet in fluid communication with the inner cavity. The froth heater can include a heater core inserted into inner cavity and configured to form a flow path between an inner wall of the outer case and the heater core between the inlet and the outlet. The heater core can include a core cavity configured to receive a heater therein to heat the heater core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Byron Devlin, Anthony Serfling, Kirsten Frogley, Keith Debald
  • Patent number: 12005533
    Abstract: An output control for a welding-type power supply includes a first contactor associated with a first weld output range. A second contactor associated with a second weld output range. An input device configured to select a weld output value from the first weld output range and the second weld output range. A control circuit configured to control the first contactor and the second contactor based on a selected weld output value, and adjust a weld output based on the selected weld output value of the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Joe Jochman
  • Patent number: 11959663
    Abstract: An electrical heater device comprises an heating element, which includes two electrodes and a heating body made of a polymer-based material having a PTC effect, in contact with the electrodes. Each electrode comprises a meshed structure, which extends in a length direction and in a width direction, and is embedded at least partially in the heating body. Each electrode further comprises an electrical-distribution element which is fixed to the meshed structure and includes a distribution portion that extends in the length direction, or in the width direction, or in both the length and width directions of the meshed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Barbano, Marco Bizzarro, Luca Costa, Luca Vercellotti
  • Patent number: 11951563
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to additive manufacturing systems. In some embodiments, an additive manufacturing system includes a fixed build plate, and a build volume extends above the fixed build plate. A boundary of the build volume may be defined by a powder containing shroud that is vertically displaceable relative to the fixed build plate. A powder deposition system is configured to deposit a powder layer along an upper surface of the build volume and the powder deposition is vertically displaceable relative to the fixed build plate. An optics assembly configured to direct laser energy from one or more laser energy sources towards the build volume, and exposure of the powder layer to the laser energy melts at least a portion of the powder layer. In some embodiments, the build plate may be supported by support columns configured to maintain the build plate in a level orientation throughout a build process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: VulcanForms Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Sweetland
  • Patent number: 11950646
    Abstract: A hand warmer comprising: a tubular sleeve having two extremities located along a longitudinal axis thereof, said sleeve defining a longitudinal opening therein, each extremity having defining an opening adapted to receive hands; a heating element; and a battery operatively connected to the heating element; wherein said tubular sleeve comprising an inner wall and an outer wall and adapted to receive the battery between the inner and outer wall and wherein the heating element is located within the longitudinal opening and is adapted to be grasped by a hand when such is inserted into the longitudinal opening of the hand warmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Galvani Tech Apparel Inc.
    Inventors: John Forzani, Jesse Galvon
  • Patent number: 11931836
    Abstract: An example welding system includes: a visual acquisition system comprising an imaging device and configured to acquire a visual representation of a weld part and to convert the visual representation into data representative of weld part features; and a part recognition component comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive the digital data; identify one or more features of the weld part in response to receipt of the digital signal; compare the digital signal to stored data of a plurality of weld parts stored in a weld part database to match one or more identified features to a known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; identify weld settings stored in a weld parameter database associated with the matching known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; and send the weld settings to a welding power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Edward Stein, Stephen Paul Ferkel
  • Patent number: 11918141
    Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a thermal conditioning device (71), such as a heater or cooler, said thermal conditioning device (71) comprising a control unit (4) for controlling a start-up phase of the thermal conditioning device (71) from a temperature of inactivity to an operative temperature, the control unit (4) comprising: a controller with a start-up profile for starting-up the thermal conditioning device (71), wherein the start-up profile has at least one parameter and the controller has a self-learning mode for adjusting the at least one parameter; and a temperature sensor connected to the controller for measuring a temperature of the thermal conditioning device (71); wherein the self-learning mode causes the controller during a start-up phase to: calculate a ramp value representative of a rate of change in temperature during the start-up phase of the thermal conditioning device; adjust the at least one parameter as a function of the adjusted ramp value; use the adjusted at least one p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Ioannis Argyris, Eric Granger
  • Patent number: 11911959
    Abstract: A device (1) for the additive production of three-dimensional objects (2) by successive, layered, selective irradiation and accompanying successive, layered, selective solidification of construction material layers of a construction material (3) that can be solidified by means of an energy beam, comprising: a plurality of irradiation devices (6 and 7), which are designed to generate an energy beam, a control device (16), which is designed to generate control information controlling the operation of the irradiation devices (6 and 7) and to control the operation of the irradiation devices (6 and 7) on the basis of generated control information, wherein the control device (16) is designed to generate first control information in order to control the operation of a first irradiation device, on the basis of which the first irradiation device generates a first energy beam (4a) for the successive, layered, selective solidification of a construction material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Pontiller-Schymura, Felix Trutschel, Tim Döhler