Patents Examined by Mark C. Hageman
  • Patent number: 12378069
    Abstract: A storage tower for storing storage containers includes a vertically extending supporting structure having a vertical axis, and m horizontally oriented container supports arranged along the vertical axis of the supporting structure and supported by container supporting frameworks to provide different levels where storage containers can be stored. The container supports are distributed at vertical intervals and m is a positive integer of 2 or more. Each container support is rotationally connected to the support structure and configured to support at least one storage container. Each level of the l container supports that are arranged above the remaining levels of m?l container supports each displays at least one opening having a size being at least a maximum horizontal cross section of the storage containers to be stored, l being a positive integer of 1 to m?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventors: Trond Austrheim, Ingvar Fagerland
  • Patent number: 12370936
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for an inductive coupling platform system comprising: an inductive coupling lift gate platform comprising: a first segment; a second segment; at least one primary inductive coupling component disposed in at least a portion of the first segment; and at least one receiver inductive coupling component disposed in at least a portion of the second segment; where inductive contact is provided between the at least one primary inductive coupling component and the at least one receiver inductive coupling component in an unfolded position; and where power or data is transmitted via the inductive contact between the at least one primary inductive coupling component and the at least one receiver inductive coupling component in the unfolded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: MAXON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: George Y. Marji, Karapet Ablabutyan
  • Patent number: 12344515
    Abstract: A driverless automatically guided transport vehicle for conveying payloads, for example a material transport vehicle in a factory, having a payload lifting apparatus. In order to offer a transport vehicle which is improved with regard to the securing of loads, it is proposed that the transport vehicle has a retaining apparatus for securing the load on the transport vehicle, the activation of which retaining apparatus is positively coupled to the lifting movement of the lifting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lang, Sven Mainz, Sascha Gerber
  • Patent number: 12334375
    Abstract: A spindle assembly for transferring wafers in a multi-station process module is provided, including: a hub body, the hub body configured to be rotated about a center axis; a plurality of end effectors, each end effector having a first end configured for connection to the hub body and a second end configured to support a wafer; a plurality of covers; a plurality of fastener assemblies; wherein the first end of each end effector is clamped between a respective cover and a respective outer portion of the hub body by a respective fastener assembly, the respective fastener assembly including a wave spring that provides a consistent clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Borth, Jeremy Pool
  • Patent number: 12333805
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a refuse collection arm, a position sensor configured to detect a position of the refuse collection arm relative to the body, an object detection system configured to provide object detection data within a range of locations relative to the body, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an indication, based on the object detection data, that an object is within the range of locations, in response to the indication that the object is within the range of locations, determine an initial location of the object relative to the body and determine if the object is an obstacle or a refuse container, and control operation of the refuse collection arm by limiting movement of the refuse collection arm to a grabbing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: OSHKOSH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Grant Wildgrube, Zhenyi Wei, Cody D. Clifton
  • Patent number: 12330720
    Abstract: A rear trailer hostler can be used to move a parked trailer without otherwise disengaging pneumatic brakes thereof. For example, the rear trailer hostler can lift the wheels of the trailer off of the ground, thereby allowing a front hostler to move the trailer without a gladhands connection to the trailer pneumatic lines. Alternatively, the rear trailer hostler can move the trailer independently. For example, the trailer can be parked atop the rear trailer hostler and disconnected from the truck. With the rear trailer hostler supporting the locked wheels and the landing gear, the trailer can be moved without requiring the pneumatic brakes to be disengaged. The rear trailer hostler can also provide one or more safety or convenience features, such as a bridging platform or a safety door stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Robotic Research OpCo, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Karl Nicholas Murphy, Eric Meyer, Rashmi Patel
  • Patent number: 12330809
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cargo handling system. The cargo handling system comprises a first cargo handling robot and a second cargo handling robot, wherein the first cargo handling robot and the second cargo handling robot are configured to transport a cargo unit from a first position to a second position, the first cargo handling robot and the second cargo handling robot configured to move in two dimensions about a cargo deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zamira A. Daw Perez, Alessandro Pinto, Richa Varma, Xiaobin Zhang, Binu M. Nair
  • Patent number: 12319499
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a goods taking mechanism and a carrying device. The goods taking mechanism includes a fixed member, a first clamping plate, a second clamping plate, and a driving assembly, where the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate are oppositely mounted on the fixed member and are connected to the driving assembly, and the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate are movable relative to the fixed member under the action of the driving assembly, to act on two opposing sides of a to-be-moved object. The goods taking mechanism of the present disclosure can clamp to-be-moved objects of different sizes, which helps reduce the distance between the adjacent to-be-moved objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: HAI ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qingxin Zhan, Zhe Kong
  • Patent number: 12319522
    Abstract: A loading box changing system for a delivery robot includes a plurality of loading boxes in which parcels are loaded and which are divided into at least two types according to the characteristics of the parcels; and a delivery robot detachably coupled to any one of the plurality of loading boxes so as to make deliveries, wherein the delivery robot includes a loading unit to which the loading boxes are coupled, and a driving unit for driving the delivery robot, and a first loading box corresponding to the characteristics of the parcels from among the plurality of loading boxes can be selectively coupled to the loading unit on the basis of the characteristics of the parcels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: WOOWA BROTHERS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ju Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 12311491
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, comprising: a transport device 100 comprising a transport vehicle 110 which can be moved freely on a base area and a handling device 150 provided on the transport vehicle 110, a carrier for goods in transport 200 which can be received by the handling device 150 and includes at least one first alignment element 220, and a receiving apparatus 300 for receiving the carrier for goods in transport 200 which can be set up on the base area or arranged on a machine set up on the base area, wherein the handling device 150 is configured to hold the carrier for goods in transport 200 in such a way that, when the carrier for goods in transport 200 is inserted and/or exchanged on the receiving apparatus 300 by the handling device 150, the carrier for goods in transport 200 is kept movable relative to the handling device 150, and the receiving apparatus 300 includes at least one second alignment element 320 which, when the carrier for goods in transport 200 is inserted and/or exch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: DECKEL MAHO Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Trenkle, Sebastian Riedel
  • Patent number: 12297060
    Abstract: An Urban Intermodal Freight System is capable of transporting large volumes and tonnage of freight by containerized or other means on a mass transit rail system. It captures excess capacity in the existing mass transit rail infrastructure to move packages, parcels, and freight by using miniaturized intermodal cargo containers that are designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing transit infrastructure, while displacing delivery trucks from increasingly crowded city streets. By enabling inbound trucks to transfer their cargo to the Urban Intermodal Freight System at a city's outskirts, freight is delivered without trucks entering congested downtown areas, greatly alleviating traffic congestion, delays, greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts. The Linear Loading Dock and Conveyor System may have other useful applications, for example to access a facility, building or vehicle, or in other circumstances where off street truck parking or loading docks are not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lawrence Kinzler
  • Patent number: 12297043
    Abstract: A picking device for storing bottles and a corresponding method are provided. The picking device includes a storage locations for bottles, a control device and an operating device having a gripper with two prongs, the operating device displaceable adjacent the storage location in first and second directions. The control device causes the operating device to lift a bottle from the storage location and move the bottle in a third direction away from the storage location by one of a frictional connection and a positive connection between the bottle and the two prongs or move a bottle in a third direction towards the storage location and lower the bottle to rest in the storage location by one of a frictional connection and a positive connection between the bottle and the two prongs. A method for retrieving bottles and an operating device for use with a picking device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 12297059
    Abstract: A loading system for loading and unloading cargo compartments of trucks includes conveyors positioned parallel or substantially parallel to one another and such that standard pallets can be moved back and forth on the conveyors in a conveying direction, and an autonomous conveyor vehicle. The conveyors are positioned at a height above a floor such that the conveyor vehicle with vertically movable pallet fork assemblies can be positioned below the conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: TRAPO AG
    Inventors: Erik Möllmann, Tobias Niehaves, Volker Kugel, Stefan Kurtenbach, Jascha Paris
  • Patent number: 12285854
    Abstract: A delivery robot includes: an inner box provided with a receiving space whose upper part is opened; a hinge bracket fixed to one side of the inner box; an actuator placed on one side of the inner box and configured to lift the rod up and down; a rail arranged vertically outside the inner box; a cover assembly partially connected to the rod, installed on the hinge bracket, and configured to rotate around a first axis according to a lifting operation of the rod to open an upper part of the inner box; a tray placed in a receiving space of the inner box; a lift wheel unit fixed to the tray and configured to move up and down along the rail; a first link installed on the lift wheel unit to rotate around the second axis; and a second link whose one side is connected to the first link to rotate around a third axis and whose other side is connected to the cover assembly to rotate around a fourth axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: NEUBILITY INC.
    Inventor: Sang Min Lee
  • Patent number: 12286290
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan C. Lucas, Calvin Lynn Stegemoeller, Austin Carl Schaffner, Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tori H. Miller, Thomas Wayne Hawkins, Glenn Ray Fowler
  • Patent number: 12280997
    Abstract: Systems and methods can prevent or reduce jerk during operation of a materials-handling vehicle that is unloaded or carrying a load. The vehicle comprises one or more user input devices configured to receive from an operator a request to perform an action and a processor. The processor is configured to determine, before performing the action requested by the operator, a force acting on the load carried by the materials-handling vehicle as a result of the action requested by the operator. The processor determines whether the force would result in a jerk if the action is performed as requested. If it is determined that the force would result in a jerk, the action is modified so as to reduce the force. If it is determined that the force would not result in a jerk, the materials-handling vehicle performs the action as requested by the operator without modification to reduce the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Draayer, Ryan McDermott, Edmund Stilwell
  • Patent number: 12269674
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan C. Lucas, Calvin Lynn Stegemoeller, Austin Carl Schaffner, Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tori H. Miller, Thomas Wayne Hawkins, Glenn Ray Fowler
  • Patent number: 12270213
    Abstract: A method of unloading a structure including a plurality of linear actuators includes extending the plurality of linear actuators to support the structure on the plurality of linear actuators at a first location, retracting the plurality of linear actuators to lower the structure onto one or more crawlers, and sending instructions to the one or more crawlers, receipt of the instructions causing the one or more crawlers to travel across a first surface to carry the structure from the first location to a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Modology Design Group
    Inventor: Mark D. Hall
  • Patent number: 12269683
    Abstract: A system for loading and unloading containers of items from transport vehicles and moving containers of items to and from desired locations using automated robots are disclosed. The system includes one or more automated robots, a base station, and one or more vehicle-based systems. The automated robots are configured to move to, lift, and carry containers of items. The base station is configured to coordinate the movements of the automated robots. The vehicle-based systems are associated with transport vehicles and configured to communicate information about containers on the transport vehicles to the base station or automated robots. The vehicle-based systems may call the one or more automated robots to automatically load or unload the transport vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventor: Ryan M. Luckay
  • Patent number: 12264747
    Abstract: A loadlock apparatus includes a loadlock chamber including a first opening and a second opening separated in a vertical direction; a first slit valve including a first valve plate configured to move between a first open position where the first opening is open and a first closed position where the first opening is closed, the first open position being a position moved downward from the first closed position; and a second slit valve including a second valve plate configured to move between a second open position where the second opening is open and a second closed position where the second opening is closed, the second open position being a position moved upward from the second closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhyuk Choi, Kongwoo Lee, Beomsoo Hwang