Patents Examined by Marc C Howell
  • Patent number: 9968221
    Abstract: An electrically operated food processor with a mixing bowl and a mixer in the mixing bowl, wherein the mixing bowl can be heated, is provided with a camera, in particular an electronic camera, which is potentially directed towards the user of the food processor, and with stored face recognition software, as well as a face data bank, it being possible to use face recognition to cause the food processor to carry out a routine task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Hendrik Koetz
  • Patent number: 9962715
    Abstract: A decanter centrifuge for separating a supplied material in a light phase and a heavy phase comprising an elongate bowl arranged for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the bowl having a separation chamber with a circumferential wall, a screw conveyor being provided in the separation chamber and being coaxial with the bowl, the screw conveyor comprising a conveyor hub. The conveyor hub comprises a longitudinal tubular steel body part and a helical steel conveyor flight attached to the tubular steel body part. The conveyor hub further comprises an inner longitudinal body extending coaxially relative the longitudinal tubular steel body part. The inner longitudinal body is extending through at least a part of the tubular steel body and is made of a first material, such as carbon fiber reinforced epoxy, whose specific modulus is larger than specific modulus of the steel material of the tubular steel body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: Erland Grønnegaard
  • Patent number: 9957800
    Abstract: The invention relates to a horizontal agitator for producing a flow in a clarifier, a submersible motor (1) and a propeller (3) drivingly connected thereto forming an assembly unit (M), wherein a receiving portion (A) for removably attaching the assembly unit (M) is provided and can be supported on the bottom (Bo) of the clarifier, and wherein a guide for guiding the assembly unit (M) along a substantially vertical movement path between a surfacing position above a maximum nominal sewage level (N) defined for the clarifier and the receiving portion (A) is provided. In order to improve the efficiency of the horizontal agitator and to reduce complexity of manufacture, the guide is formed by at least one first cable (S) extending between the surfacing position and the receiving portion (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: INVENT UMWELT-UND VERFAHRENSTECHNIK AG
    Inventors: Marcus Hoefken, Thomas Hagspiel
  • Patent number: 9944008
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for extruding plastic compositions, in particular polymer melts and mixtures of polymer melts, above all thermoplastics and elastomers, particularly preferably polycarbonate and polycarbonate blends, also with the incorporation of other substances such as for example solids, liquids, gases or other polymers or other polymer blends with improved optical characteristics, with the assistance of a multi-screw extruder with specific screw geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Thomas Koenig, Michael Bierdel, Ulrich Liesenfelder, Klemens Kohlgrüber, Johann Rechner
  • Patent number: 9914101
    Abstract: A mixing bit having an elongated shaft configured to fit into a chuck of a drill at a first end also has a second end is provided with a blade assembly having a plurality of specifically shaped and equally-spaced blades. The blades extend perpendicularly from the shaft and then converge onto the shaft at a distal end of the second end. The bit is provided with a rounded spinner feature enabling smooth sliding of the device across a floor portion of a container during mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan Schrudder, Victoria Schrudder
  • Patent number: 9889415
    Abstract: A device for storing and mixing bone cement components. The device includes a housing, a safety device, and a vacuum indicator. The housing defines a mixing chamber configured to store a first bone cement component therein. In a first safety position, the safety device prevents contact between the first bone cement component and a second bone cement component in the mixing chamber. In a second safety position, the safety device permits contact between the first and second bone cement components in the mixing chamber. The vacuum indicator restricts movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a first vacuum indicator position. The vacuum indicator permits movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a second vacuum indicator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Biomet SAS
    Inventors: Lenaic Giffard, Cedric Cauquot, Alexis Dupuy
  • Patent number: 9873103
    Abstract: A device enables the more stable performance of uniform treatment such as reaction by reducing pulsation generated in a fluid introduced between treatment surfaces using a micropump effect. The device treats an object between treatment surfaces. The treatment is performed by introducing a fluid between the treatment surfaces using a micropump effect. The micropump effect generates force in the direction in which the treatment surfaces move away from each other by the rotation of a treatment part and the recessed section formed in the treatment surface to thereby produce the effect of introducing the fluid between the treatment surfaces. The recessed section is formed so as to extend in the circumferential direction and inward/outward direction of the treatment surface, and multiple recessed sections are provided or an additional recessed section (?) different from the recessed sections is formed in at least one of the treatment surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: M. TECHNIQUE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masakazu Enomura
  • Patent number: 9868245
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel screw elements for multi-screw extruders with screw profiles co-rotating in pairs and being fully self-wiping in pairs, to the use of the screw elements in multi-screw extruders and to a process for extruding plastic compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Michael Bierdel, Thomas König, Ulrich Liesenfelder
  • Patent number: 9849430
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a mixing device are presented. The mixing device comprises a shaft and a plurality of blades attached to the shaft. The blades include a variable pitch angle configured to create axial fluid flow and radial fluid flow within a container. The apparatus includes a hub and a cage located at ends of the apparatus. The cage includes an open end configured to mate with a structure attached to the container. In further examples of the apparatus, the upper blade is configured to create axial flow in a substantially downward direction. The lower blade is configured to create axial flow in a substantially upward direction. The lower blade can create an axial flow that encounters the upper blade. A method includes locating a mixing apparatus within the container, inserting fluid within the container, rotating the mixing apparatus, and mixing the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Triad Capital Group, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel John Shramo, James David Galvin
  • Patent number: 9808777
    Abstract: A mixing and paint-making device and method for making paint are described. Embodiments of the paint-making device include a first and second palette hingedly coupled to a base. The base includes a paint pot shaking component configured to agitate and/or translate a paint pot. The paint pot shaking component includes a series of gears and pistons that interact to produce a shaking motion for a paint pot coupled to the paint pot shaking component. In one embodiment, the paint pot shaking component includes a crank gear adjacent a combination gear that contacts a slide crankshaft. The slide crankshaft is coupled to a slide crank arm that is secured by slide bracket coupled to the base. A paint pot harness holds a paint pot during agitation and moves in an upward and downward motion corresponding to the motion of the slide crank arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Crayola, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Henry, Cheryl Krieger, James Allen
  • Patent number: 9808978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to screw elements with novel, tightly intermeshing, self-cleaning, co-rotating screw profiles for multishaft screw machines with pairs of co-rotating and fully abrading screw shafts, to the use of these screw elements in multishaft screw machines and to a method of generating these screw elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Michael Bierdel, Thomas König, Ulrich Liesenfelder
  • Patent number: 9801500
    Abstract: An apparatus for agitating liquid foodstuff, comprising a whisk that includes a magnetic rotor of a brushless electromotor assembly, and a main body including a liquid foodstuff container in which the whisk is receivable such that it is rotatable around a rotation axis (L) thereof, and a stator of the electromotor assembly. The stator is configured to electromagnetically drive the rotor in rotation, and includes at least one magnetic sensor configured to provide a signal that reflects positional changes of the magnetic rotor relative to the magnetic sensor. The main body also includes a controller configured to detect an initial, manually effected rotational movement of the whisk around its rotation axis from the signal of the magnetic sensor, and, once such initial movement of the whisk is detected, to operate the apparatus independent of said initial, movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Ronald Ven Der Woning
  • Patent number: 9802168
    Abstract: A jar or other storage container with an integrated stirring device, where the contents of the jar or storage container can be stirred and mixed together without having to completely open the jar or storage container. The core components in one embodiment are a top portion that contains external threads, a lid portion which contains internal threads, a spindle with an etched self-reversing screw pattern, a hub, one or more stirring blades, and a nut. The stirring blades have one end attached at a hub that is free to rotate on the spindle, the other end is attached to a nut that can travel up and down the self-reversing screw pattern, and the spindle is fixed to the lid portion. The surface area of the stirring blade(s) can be changed to accommodate different thicknesses and viscosities of different fluids and semi-fluids placed in the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Holly, Veronica Stout-Holly
  • Patent number: 9788691
    Abstract: An electric mixer can include a motor, an interchangeable paddle assembly, and a mounting plate. The mounting plate attaches to the top of a cooking vessel and includes a pair of clamping plates adapted to span a diameter of various size cooking vessels. The motor is attached to the mounting plate and is operably connected to the paddle assembly providing power to rotate the paddle and stir the contents of the cooking vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph Bender
  • Patent number: 9782922
    Abstract: A heater-cooler system includes a plurality of heaters in thermal communication with a barrel of an extruder. The heater-cooler system includes a plurality of shroud assemblies that each define a cavity between a shroud assemblies and one of the heaters. Each heater is enclosed by one of the shroud assemblies. Each of the shroud assemblies has an intake port and an exhaust port. The heater-cooler system includes a blower connected to the intake port. The blower delivers air to the cavity. A portion of the each of the shroud assemblies at the exhaust port defines a flap moveably integrated therewith. The flap is opened by an increase in pressure in the cavity caused by operation of the blower. The flap seals the cavity in a closed position upon termination of blower operation. The flap is configured as a poppet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Davis-Standard, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Christiano, Norton Wheeler, Jason Baird, John Radovich, Thomas J. Oravits, Frederick C. Suppon
  • Patent number: 9776145
    Abstract: Provided is a method of mixing first and second liquids having mutual solubility inside a mixing flow channel formed by a micro flow channel. This method includes: causing the first and second liquids to be joined to each other inside the mixing flow channel; and forming a slug flow, in which mixing subject cells (60) formed by the joined liquid and insoluble fluid cells (63) formed by an insoluble fluid are alternately arranged, inside a flow channel at the downstream side of an insoluble fluid supply position in a manner such that the insoluble fluid having insolubility with respect to both mixing subject liquids is supplied to the joined liquid flowing through the flow channel in a direction intersecting the flow channel so that the joined liquid is divided with a gap therebetween, thereby mixing the first mixing subject liquid and the second mixing subject liquid contained in each mixing subject cell inside the downstream flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nishikawa, Takeshi Yamashita, Makoto Nishimura, Koji Noishiki
  • Patent number: 9764296
    Abstract: A mixing element for a static mixer for installation into a tubular mixer housing has a longitudinal axis along which a plurality of installation bodies are arranged behind one another. A first installation body has a first wall element which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis and a first side wall and a second side wall which is arranged opposite the first side wall. A deflection element is arranged adjacent to the first wall element and has a deflection surface extending in the transverse direction to the wall element at both sides of the wall element. A first opening is provided in the deflection surface at the side which faces the first side wall of the first wall element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SULZER MIXPAC AG
    Inventors: Volker Linne, Sasan Habibi-Naini
  • Patent number: 9737483
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of pharmaceutical sciences. More specifically, the present invention includes apparatus and devices for the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles, such as multivesicular liposomes, methods for preparing such formulations, and the use of specific formulations for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof. Formation and use of the pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles produced by using the apparatus and devices for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof is also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest George Schutt, Ronald Warren McGuire, Peter Andrew Walters, Kathleen D. A. Los
  • Patent number: 9738025
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for extruding plastic compositions. The process in particular relates to the conveying, kneading and/or mixing of plastic compositions, in particular of polymer melts and mixtures of polymer melts, above all thermoplastics and elastomers, particularly preferably polycarbonate and polycarbonate blends, also with the incorporation of other substances such as for example solids, liquids, gases or other polymers or other polymer blends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Thomas König, Michael Bierdel, Carsten Conzen, Ulrich Liesenfelder, Klemens Kohlgrüber, Reiner Rudolf, Johann Rechner
  • Patent number: 9724661
    Abstract: A device for storing and mixing bone cement components. The device includes a housing, a safety device, and a vacuum indicator. The housing defines a mixing chamber configured to store a first bone cement component therein. In a first safety position, the safety device prevents contact between the first bone cement component and a second bone cement component in the mixing chamber. In a second safety position, the safety device permits contact between the first and second bone cement components in the mixing chamber. The vacuum indicator restricts movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a first vacuum indicator position. The vacuum indicator permits movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a second vacuum indicator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet SAS
    Inventors: Lenaic Giffard, Cedric Cauquot, Alexis Dupuy