Patents Examined by Kavel Singh
  • Patent number: 12221285
    Abstract: An electro adhesion (EA) conveyor system for transporting a metallic container includes at least one electro adhesion (EA) pad. The EA pad includes at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode arranged in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern is configured to generate an electric field when a voltage is applied to one or more of the at least one positive electrode or the at least one negative electrode. The EA conveyor system includes a conveyor belt operable to transport the metallic container between a first position and a second position. The metallic container is held against the conveyor belt via EA generated by the EA pad during transportation. The EA conveyor system may be adjusted by a control unit of a control system based on production line information such as operational data received from sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: Leonardo Jose Paes
  • Patent number: 12221300
    Abstract: A conveyor for transferring debris that falls from an end dump conveyor to a main incline conveyor. A cleanup conveyor is attached to an end dump conveyor of a crop piler. The upper run of the cleanup conveyor is positioned below a lower run of the end dump conveyor and is adapted to receive debris that falls from the lower run of the end dump conveyor. The outer end of the cleanup conveyor is near a main incline conveyor of the crop piler to transfer the debris that falls from the lower run of the end dump conveyor to the main incline conveyor of the crop piler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Kringstad Ironworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Burnell R. Kringstad
  • Patent number: 12221288
    Abstract: A plant (100) for producing food products, more particularly chocolate products; a module for a plant of this kind and a method for process changeover on the plant (100). The plant (100) includes a plurality of modules (10) in which the food products, preferably in product carriers (20), can be processed and/or transported. The modules (10) each have a module frame (11) with heights (12), widths (13) and lengths (14, 15, 16). The length is a multiple of a smallest module length (15). The plant preferably has modules (10) with a single smallest module length (15) and modules (10) with a length (16) of a twice the smallest module length. Preferably, the modules (10) are designed such that they can be connected or are connected to adjacent modules in the longitudinal direction, preferably on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Bühler GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Klein, Kay Hauschulz, Mark Knapp
  • Patent number: 12221286
    Abstract: An article transport feeder is equipped with an article transporter removably attachable to a vibratory head of a vibration mechanism. The article transport feeder is also equipped with a fastening unit having an operation lever. The fastening unit rotates the operation lever to retainably engage the article transporter with the vibratory head by fastening. The article transport feeder is further equipped with a movable coupling member having a spindle elastically deformable. The movable coupling member is coupleable to the fastening unit and allowed to move along with the rotation of the operation lever. The spindle is elastically deformable by moving the movable coupling member along with the rotation of the operation lever of the fastening unit to elastically retain the engagement of the article transporter with the vibratory head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: YAMATO SCALE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Shimatani, Ryo Suemichi
  • Patent number: 12221289
    Abstract: A driver includes: a first motor located so as to rotate a driving shaft; a second motor located so as to rotate the driving shaft; and circuitry. The circuitry performs control while switching between a dual mode and a single mode. In the dual mode, the circuitry drives the first motor and the second motor together. In the single mode, the circuitry drives a drive target motor that is one of the first motor and the second motor and performs such control as to set one or more among a rotational speed, rotation acceleration, and rotation deceleration of the drive target motor to be lower than that or those in the dual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nariai, Kengo Maeda, Shogo Fujita
  • Patent number: 12214965
    Abstract: The invention is a digitally adjustable and reversible vibrating conveyor. It provides a trough to which sinusoidal motion is applied variably and adaptably. A motor turns a shaft in an oscillating or rocking motion about its longitudinal axis. Variable settings on a controller determine the oscillation parameters for the motor. These settings particularly address three variables: the oscillation speed; the arc angle through which the oscillation proceeds, and a net angle that represents the mid-point for the oscillation relative to vertical. The invention allows for adaptation of vibrating conveyors without adjusting them mechanically, and enables reversal of load transfer direction when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: McMennamy-Nafziger & Accessories
    Inventor: Steven S. Nafziger
  • Patent number: 12208965
    Abstract: A conveyor system and drive element for same include a chain including a plurality of links that hinge with respect to each other and a plurality of moving elements such as balls that freely move in the links. A drive element drives the chain in a conveying direction and includes an elongated body with a surface that has a plurality of planar facets arranged around the longitudinal axis of the body. The facets extend along the body and engage respective links of the chain as the body is rotated to drive the chain. Relief elements are located in each facet and are configured for receiving the moving elements of the chain links engaging the facets so the links lie generally flat on the facets when the chain is driven. Other versions of the drive element are faceted for driving a chain with links but without relief elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Motoveyo Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 12208932
    Abstract: A vertical packaging machine that includes a forming tube having an inner passage section and retaining means associated with the forming tube. The retaining means includes a retaining device configured to be displaced between a blocking position (P1) in which it at least partially blocks the inner passage section of the forming tube, and a release position (P2) in which it does not block said inner passage section of the forming tube. While in the blocking position (P1), the retaining device is arranged at a fixed specific height and is configured to prevent a product from passing through the inner passage section of the forming tube. Upon transitioning to the release position (P2), the retaining device is withdrawn from the path to be followed by the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: ULMA Packaging, S. Coop
    Inventors: Alberto Otxoa-Aizpurua Calvo, Eneko Izquierdo Ereño
  • Patent number: 12208477
    Abstract: A manufacturing machine includes a feeding system that has first and second processing conveyors arranged in series along the processing path, and a transfer unit interposed between there-between that cyclically transfers the products from the first processing conveyor to the second processing conveyor, picking up the products in a pick-up station arranged in the area of the first processing conveyor and releasing the products in a release station arranged in the area of the second processing conveyor. The transfer unit has a plurality of trays, each having a series of seats designed to house a product, a moving system, which cyclically moves the trays between the pick-up and release stations, a first transferring and second transfer devices arranged in the pick-up station and release stations, respectively to transfer the products from the first processing conveyor to a tray, and from a tray to the second processing conveyor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Giovanni Madera, Luca Lanzarini
  • Patent number: 12202681
    Abstract: Method and machine to carry out a control on a group of articles. An initial conveyor is configured to move the articles along an initial path, which starts in an input station; a final conveyor is configured to move the articles along a final path, which is parallel and next to the initial path and ends in an output station; a control unit is configured to carry out a simultaneous control of all articles of the group of articles; a first transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles to be controlled from the initial conveyor to the control unit; and a second transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles controlled by the control unit to the final conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventor: Fulvio Boldrini
  • Patent number: 12202676
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for setting an object conveying speed, relating to the technical field of computers. The method comprises: acquiring historical feature data of an object within multiple predefined time periods, and constructing a conveying speed level model, which indicates a corresponding relationship between the historical feature data and a conveying speed level, and which further includes a feature index that indicates the conveying speed level (S101); acquiring feature data of an object to be conveyed, and determining, by using the conveying speed level model, the conveying speed level of the object to be conveyed (S102); and determining the conveying speed of the object to be conveyed according to the conveying speed level (S103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING JINDONG ZHENSHI INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Huachang Li
  • Patent number: 12202678
    Abstract: A belt tear monitoring system for a conveyor belt includes an RFID tag embedded in the conveyor belt, and at least two conductor loops which are embedded in the conveyor belt and each closed. One of the at least two conductor loops is arranged within another one of the at least two conductor loops. The at least two conductor loops are short-circuited to one another at a short-circuit location, with the short-circuit location and the RFID tag being arranged in a region of belt edges of the conveyor belt which lie opposite one another in a longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, and with the at least two conductor loops and the RFID tag being connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Inventor: Rolf Gnauert
  • Patent number: 12195281
    Abstract: The tail pulley and belt saver may couple to a shaft of a tail pulley in order to keep a belt of a conveyor on the tail pulley. As a non-limiting example, the end of the conveyor may comprise a non-driven pulley commonly referred to as the tail pulley. Due to excessive wear, uneven wear, misalignment, and other factors, the belt may tend to travel to one side of the tail pulley or the other. The tail pulley and belt saver may be coupled to the shaft of the tail pulley in order to keep the belt on the tail pulley. The tail pulley and belt saver may reduce damage to the belt and the tail pulley that may occur when the belt travels laterally on the tail pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Josh Cox
  • Patent number: 12195279
    Abstract: Provided is a transport system to facilitate interlayer movement of a transported object. The transport system comprises: a rail device; and a transport vehicle moving in the rail device, wherein the rail device comprises: a first rail with a first inclination angle; a second rail with a second inclination angle larger than the first inclination angle; a first connection rail configured to connect the first rail to the second rail; and a rack rail installed along the first connection rail and the second rail, wherein the transport vehicle comprises: a frame; a driving wheel connected to the frame and moving the first rail, the first connection rail and the second rail; and a pinion gear connected to the frame and moving along the rack rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Won Yun, Doo Bong Kim, Su Ung Lee
  • Patent number: 12187475
    Abstract: An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes an orienter for placing containers into a correct rotational position and a transfer device for transferring the oriented containers in a fixed rotational position to a jaw drum for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Brian K. Johansen, Robert C. Beesley, Christopher J. Samaras
  • Patent number: 12180037
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a handrail treatment device which comprises a housing and a cylindrical base body which is arranged in the housing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. A cleaning facing is arranged on a cylinder outer surface of the base body, over which a circulating handrail of a passenger transport system can be guided for the purpose of removing dirt and germs. At least one radiation source is arranged inside the housing, which radiation source can emit germicidal electromagnetic radiation, wherein the radiation source is aligned with the base body in such a way that the cleaning facing moving continuously past the radiation source is exposed to the germicidal electromagnetic radiation of this radiation source when the base body rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bauer, Michael Haider, Wolfgang Neszmerak
  • Patent number: 12172781
    Abstract: A method is provided for packaging objects which are included in a plurality of objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group and the shape of which is such that the objects included in the plurality of objects can roll along a surface. The objects included in the plurality of objects are deposited onto a solid surface of a system for packaging the objects. The deposition surface is substantially horizontal, suitable for receiving the objects included in the plurality of objects and elastically deformable such that the deposition of each object on the deposition surface creates, under the weight of the object concerned, a recess in the deposition surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: MAF AGROBOTIC
    Inventor: Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 12172847
    Abstract: A method for auto-calibration of a sorter is described. The method includes transmitting, by a carrier transmit board of a sorter, a short discharge command to a first section of the sorter. The short discharge command can be generated based on a first clock offset. Further, the method includes receiving at the carrier transmit board a status message indicative of a status of a first motor control board associated with the first section of the sorter. Furthermore, in response to the status message indicating that the first motor control did not receive the short discharge command, the method includes modifying the first clock offset to a second clock offset and retransmitting the short discharge command based on a second clock offset. If the first motor control receives the short discharge command, the method includes configuring a sorter control system based on the first clock offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Kenneth Vegh
  • Patent number: 12172249
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a carbide blade cutter head filling device and method, and relates to the field of alloy blade processing. The carbide blade cutter head filling device includes a feeding unit, a storage unit, a loading unit and a discharging unit which are arranged successively. The output end of the feeding unit is matched with the input end of the storage unit through the guide mechanism. The output end of the storage unit faces a conveying tray of the loading unit. The conveying tray is provided with a plurality of group of transition holes for accommodating blades. A receiving mechanism for accommodating a cutter head is arranged below the falling pull plate of the discharging unit. The falling pull plate adjusts the communication and isolation between the transition hole and the cutter head in the receiving mechanism by changing the relative position of the falling pull plate and the transition hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY NINGBO SANHAN ALLOY MATERIAL CO., LTD., NINGBO SANHAN ALLOY MATERIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changhe Li, Shuo Yin, Liang Luo, Weixi Ji, Binhui Wan, Cong Mao, Haogang Li, Huajun Cao, Bingheng Lu, Lizhi Tang, Xin Cui, Mingzheng Liu, Yanbin Zhang, Jie Xu, Huiming Luo, Haizhou Xu, Min Yang, Huaping Hong, Teng Gao, Yuying Yang, Wuxing Ma, Shuai Chen
  • Patent number: 12162695
    Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a tie plate dispenser which aligns tie plates for dispensing based on rail base rather than outer edges of the tie plate. Thus tie plates are aligned and located in a differing manner than prior art systems. Further, the tie plate dispenser includes an opening over which a magnet is disposed to retain a tie plate over the opening. The tie plate over the opening may be selectively released by disengaging the tie plate from the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: B & B METALS, INC
    Inventor: Coty T. Coots