Patents Examined by Marc C Howell
  • Patent number: 11890587
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a hollow tube, central shaft, agitation components, and bidirectional fluted auger. The hollow tube can have an inlet, outlet, and longitudinal central axis, and can facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials from the inlet to the outlet. The central shaft can extend along the longitudinal axis and can be rotationally driven both clockwise and counterclockwise. The agitation components can be coupled to the central shaft and can agitate and mix foodstuff materials being conveyed along the hollow tube. The bidirectional fluted auger can be coupled to the central shaft proximate the outlet, can rotate with the central shaft when the central shaft is rotationally driven, and can have a flow rate limiting inner cylinder, clockwise-progressing flute features, and counterclockwise-progressing flute features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Seattle Food Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Chloe Grubb
  • Patent number: 11891203
    Abstract: Provided is a bag gripping clip, in which, in a case where a bag that forms an accommodation space between a first film and a second film facing the first film is gripped by the clip, a pressing force for bringing the first film and the second film into partially close contact with each other is applied to the bag, and a partition that divides the accommodation space into a plurality of spaces communicating with each other via a communication part is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Takayama, Kotaro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 11890586
    Abstract: A device produces fine bubbles that has a simple configuration and that is capable of generating fine bubbles. This fine bubble generation device includes: a porous body having continuous pores; a liquid supply section that supplies a liquid to the porous body and causes the liquid to circulate through the continuous pores; and a liquid discharge section for discharging liquid that has circulated through the continuous pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: CATALER CORPORATION, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION SHIZUOKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tomohito Mizukami, Yusuke Saito, Nobuyuki Mase
  • Patent number: 11883788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a production system for manufacturing of formulations, comprising a unit (1). The unit (1) includes a subunit (1.1) which includes a combination of a process mixer and a buffer tank, means of feeding defined amounts of feedstocks into the process mixer, a measurement unit for ascertaining properties of a part-batch of a formulation manufactured in the process mixer, an evaluation unit for determining a deviation of properties of the part-batches manufactured in the process mixer from the properties of a predefined target state, and a unit for adjusting the feed of feedstocks in view of the deviations. The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing formulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BASF COATINGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Joege, Bernhard Hueser, Ralf Berg, Stefan Groetsch, Jeremy Fouillet, Michael Kolbe, Jan Berg
  • Patent number: 11877696
    Abstract: A food processor assembly is disclosed. An example food processor assembly includes an assembly base, a bowl base, a bow, a lid, and a blade storage container. The assembly base includes a rotary input shaft that selectively couples to a coupler of a blender base. The bowl base selectively couples to the assembly base with the rotary input shaft extending through the bowl based. The bowl includes a body and a central column integrally formed with the body though which the rotary input shaft extends. The lid selectively couples to the bowl. The lid includes a feed tube to receive food items. The lid having a first vertical orientation to selectively couple to the bowl and a second vertical orientation to selectively couple to the bowl. The blade storage container selectively couples to the lid when the lid in coupled to the bowl in the second vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Hammond, David Kolar
  • Patent number: 11872535
    Abstract: A connecting chuck of a material cylinder for a mixer and a mixer are disclosed according to the present application. The chuck includes a chuck body, and a first axial position-limiting connector and a second axial position-limiting connector are provided on the chuck body. After the chuck body rotates around the outlet pipe of the material cylinder by a preset angle, the first axial position-limiting connector can cooperate with a first axial position-limiting cooperating member on the material cylinder, and the second axial position-limiting connector can cooperate with a second axial position-limiting cooperating member on the mixer, so that an inlet pipe of the mixer is compressed with the outlet pipe of the material cylinder for cooperation. Through the above structure, after use, the chuck body reversely rotates to an initial position and the mixer is replaced, and the chuck body is reusable without replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HUANGHUA PROMISEE DENTAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qingxuan He
  • Patent number: 11864691
    Abstract: A blender or food processor having electronics associated therewith including at least one controller, at least one current sensor and at least one speed sensor, the controller controls the operation of the blender motor based upon the contents being blended inside the blender jar and compares measured current and speed values and measured changes in the current and speed values to predetermined values stored in memory in order to (1) determine the load size placed in the blender jar, (2) determine if cavitation exists in the blender jar, and (3) determine the final consistency associated with the output of the product placed within the blender jar as selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregary Hack, Joseph C. Spencer, Henry H. Adair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11864692
    Abstract: One example food preparation appliance includes a base having a motor and an adaptor, a weight sensor coupled to the adaptor, and a communication component. The adaptor is configured to support a food preparation accessory. The weight sensor is configured to detect a weight applied to the adaptor. The communication component is configured to transmit data associated with a weight detected by the weight sensor. An example remote communication device includes a display device, a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor. The remote communication device is configured to display a first instruction on the display device, the first instruction including a first target weight of a first substance; receive a measurement from a food preparation appliance indicative of a weight applied to an adaptor of the food preparation appliance; and display a second instruction when the weight is substantially equal to the first target weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolando Antonio Cavazos Jimenez, Joseph V. Krebs, James Stuart Saunders, Emily Van Haren
  • Patent number: 11865503
    Abstract: A multipurpose solution mixer and a use method thereof are provided. The multipurpose solution mixer includes a main control unit, a solution storage unit and a solution blending unit installed in a case; an operation display unit and a liquid outlet provided on the case; and an atomization humidifying unit connected with the liquid outlet, wherein the main control unit is electrically connected with other units; the operation display unit is a display screen with touch operation functions; the solution storage unit includes sealed bottles and infusion tubes; the solution blending unit includes micropumps infusion tubes and a blending chamber, the blending chamber is connected with the atomization humidifying unit via respective infusion tubes, and the operation display unit sends instructions to the main control unit to control the micropumps to extract solutions from the sealed bottles into the blending chamber, and output a mixed solution via the liquid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNIVERSITY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
    Inventors: Jianying Wang, Lei Zhang, Xiaojuan Hu
  • Patent number: 11833711
    Abstract: An improved blending apparatus for manufactured wood products with a rotating blending drum or cylinder with a pattern of alternating flights of different configurations extending from the interior of the drum. The flights lift the strands as the drum rotates to different heights before the strands free-fall back to the bottom of the drum. One flight is shorter, and may be trapezoidal in cross-section. The second flight is taller, and may have a “bull-nose” configuration with substantially vertical sides. During operation, the design of the bull-nose flight tends to hold more strands and to carry them closer to the top of the drum before the strands drop and fall. In contrast, the shorter height and angled sides of the trapezoidal flight tends to hold fewer strands and to not carry them as high along the side before strands drop and fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: LOUISIANA-PACIFIC CORP.
    Inventors: David G. Edwall, Shane Chucka, Grant Stevenson, Mathew Fish, Wayne Temple
  • Patent number: 11825991
    Abstract: A blade assembly and a food processor having the same are provided. The blade assembly includes an inner blade shaft, an outer blade shaft, an inner joint assembly, and an outer joint assembly. The outer blade shaft is fitted over the inner blade shaft. The inner joint assembly includes an inner blade joint, an inner motor joint, and an inner sealing head. The inner sealing head is connected between the inner blade joint and the inner motor joint, the inner blade joint is connected to the inner blade shaft. The outer joint assembly includes an outer blade joint, an outer motor joint, and an outer sealing head, the outer sealing head is connected between the outer blade joint and the outer motor joint, and the outer blade joint is connected to the outer blade shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Zhihua Wen
  • Patent number: 11819814
    Abstract: Micro puree machines have a locking assembly for locking a container to a coupling on the machine, preventing the container from rotating out of the coupling during processing. The locking assembly includes at least one protrusion on the container configured to slidably engage a slot on an interior surface of the coupling when the container is rotated in a clockwise direction. The coupling has a clip that is moveable from a first position, in which the clip prevents rotation of the container in the counterclockwise direction, to a second position, in which the clip allows rotation of the container in the counterclockwise direction. The clip is spring biased toward the second position. Pressing a button on the coupling moves the clip from the first to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Lyell
  • Patent number: 11819810
    Abstract: A mixer and method for mixing are provided. The mixer includes a housing including a fluid inlet, an additive inlet, and an outlet. The housing defines a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the additive inlet, and the outlet. The mixer also includes an impeller disposed in the mixing chamber. When rotated, the impeller pumps fluid through the fluid inlet. The mixer also includes a slinger disposed in the mixing chamber and configured to receive the fluid from the impeller and to receive an additive from the additive inlet. When rotated, the slinger slings the fluid and the additive radially outwards. The mixer further includes a flush line extending between the mixing chamber and the additive inlet. The flush line is receives, from the mixing chamber, a portion of the fluid pumped by the impeller and to deliver the portion of the fluid to the additive inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Luharuka, Gocha Chochua, Hau Nguyen-Phuc Pham, Mark Ayyad
  • Patent number: 11819808
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method for producing a play compound and the play compound itself which, in one embodiment is a compound which sufficiently fluid to be pliable and is typically cold and slimy to the touch. The apparatus and a method provide a powder and liquid to a user, which can be a non-skilled person and thereby allow the mixing of the powder and liquid together by that person to form the play compound outside of a factory environment whilst ensuring that the play compound which is formed has the desired characteristics. Most typically the user which performs the mixing can be the end user, such as a child, who will play with the compound and so the formation of the play compound forms a new part of the play experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: WeCool Toys Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alber, Jeffrey Osnato
  • Patent number: 11780144
    Abstract: An improved extruder apparatus is disclosed and which includes a cylindrical barrel having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end having an inlet in fluid communication with a hopper. The extruder screw is mounted in the cylindrical barrel, and the screw has an outer surface having one or more helical flights mounted thereon, wherein the inlet end of the cylindrical barrel has a support frame mounted thereto, wherein an upper surface of the support frame is connected to a throat of a hopper, wherein an insert is mounted to the support frame and has a lower end which extends down into the cylindrical barrel, wherein the insert has an internal passageway having a first opening on the lower end and a second opening upstream of the screw for relieving the pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
    Inventors: Hongbing Chen, Christopher David Dyrlund, Joshua Aaron Phillipson, Jared Allen Vanasdale
  • Patent number: 11766644
    Abstract: A liquid polymer or chemical activation system, having a chamber; a top cover plate, a middle cover plate and a bottom cover plate; wherein such configuration creates a hollow space inside the chamber that is flanked by the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate; a blending reactor with one or more inlets for receiving one or more substances; an upper multistage mixing cup configured to receive the one or more substances from the one or more inlets; at least one high shear mixer for mixing the one or more substances; at least one submersible actuator for actuating the high shear mixer; an intermediate blending section for receiving the one or more substances from the upper multistage mixing cup; a lower multistage aging cup for further mixing of the one or more substances; and at least one outlet on the bottom cover plate for releasing the one or more substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Adalberto Mercado Alvarado
  • Patent number: 11766648
    Abstract: A rotor-stator cooling system addresses the problem of heat generation and viscosity in feedstock mixers by utilizing a cooling dome which receives recirculating cooling water. The dome is attached above a rotor-stator mixer assembly having rotor and stator elements. Cooling water provides for temperature control to feedstock being drawn into the dome, as well as the feedstock circulating within the mixing tank containing the balance of the feedstock outside the dome. The rotor-stator assembly is cooled as well. In order to increase the feedstock viscosity range in the dome, an auger within a tubular member is added to the drive shaft above the rotor-stator assembly. This enables the velocity of slow-moving feedstock to increase, forcing it into the rotor-stator assembly located below. The feedstock is then further accelerated by the rotor element and forced through the stator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Herman Hockmeyer
  • Patent number: 11759057
    Abstract: A micro puree machine has a drive motor positioned within a lower portion of a housing extending along a vertical axis. A mixing shaft positioned within an upper portion of the housing extends at a non-parallel angle relative to the vertical axis. The bowl of ingredients is installed to an angled surface of the upper portion of the housing along the mixing shaft axis, allowing for easier viewing of the bowl installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
    Inventors: Ping Chu, Nathan Lyell, Diego Jasso, Ryan Michienzi, Glen Ruggiero, Thomas Zhang, Yanfeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11744407
    Abstract: Described herein is a food processing apparatus (2) comprising: a container (4) having an interior; a sieve disposed within the interior of the container (4) and dividing the interior into a processing volume (14) and a collection volume (16); and a processing member (8) for processing food disposed within the processing volume. The sieve (7) comprises: a first separation member (10) comprising a set of first holes (32); and a second separation member (12) adjacent the first separation member and comprising a set of second holes (33) which are arranged such that they overlap the set of first holes to form a plurality of aligned openings (35) which pass through the first and second separation members (10, 12) for allowing food to pass from the processing volume (14) into the collection volume (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Albert Quinesser
  • Patent number: 11746040
    Abstract: In one example, a solver engine may execute a reverse calculation to determine a recipe ingredient set based on a goal descriptor describing a ceramic glaze. A descriptor interface of the solver engine may receive a goal descriptor describing a ceramic glaze. A model applicator of the solver engine may apply a glaze process model to the goal descriptor. The model applicator may automatically reverse calculate a glaze recipe describing a recipe ingredient set to produce the ceramic glaze described by the goal descriptor. A glaze mixing machine interface may direct a glaze mixing machine to mix the recipe ingredient set to produce the ceramic glaze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Andrea Wolf, Gabriel Takacs