Patents Examined by Mark Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 9617067
    Abstract: A method and means for disaggregating aggregated particulate. A housing contains a rotational motor and a vibrating motor also has an auger drivingly linked to the rotational motor. Legs extend from the housing in the same direction as the auger and the device rests upon the aggregated particulate. Upon driving the rotational motor, the auger bores through the aggregated particulate, thereby disaggregating particulate. The vibrating motor is also driven to vibrate and further disaggregate the particulate. A plate device with a vibrating motor attached is also used to disaggregate the particulate, such as by teeth extending from the bottom of the plate that are driven into the aggregate by the weight of the plate when vibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Michael L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9617993
    Abstract: A macerator pump apparatus (MPA) includes a waste valve assembly (WVA), a macerator assembly, a pumping assembly, and a quick disconnect discharge assembly (QDDA). An inlet port of the WVA receives waste matter from a waste holding tank (WHT). A valve member positioned within the WVA directs flow of the waste matter to the macerator assembly and isolates the waste matter within the WHT by closing the valve member before the MPA is disassembled for maintenance. The macerator assembly macerates the waste matter and transfers the macerated waste matter to the pumping assembly and to a discharge port of the QDDA. A quick disconnect member detachably connects an outlet plumbing pipe to the discharge port via a quick disconnect valve (QDV) for discharging the macerated waste matter. The QDV isolates the macerated waste matter within the outlet plumbing pipe by closing the QDV before the MPA is disassembled for maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: RARITAN ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Vinod K Mehta
  • Patent number: 9603480
    Abstract: A system for dosing coffee beans, comprising a coffee bean package provided with at least one wall which at least partly encloses an inner space for multiple dosages of coffee beans, and a coffee bean outlet for delivering coffee beans, and an apparatus provided with a coffee bean grinder, a coffee bean inlet for supplying coffee beans from the coffee bean package to the grinder, a connecting device for connecting the coffee bean package to the apparatus, so that the coffee bean outlet can be connected to the coffee bean inlet, and a dosing device provided with a dosing space which is arranged for feeding-through one predetermined dose of coffee beans from the coffee bean outlet to the coffee bean inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Ivo van Os, Philippe Jacques van Camp, Age Willem Tanja, Gerbrand Kristiaan de Graaff
  • Patent number: 9605379
    Abstract: A cast metal plate segment for a refiner of lignocellulosic material or a disperser of comminuted paper or packaging products, the plate segment including a front side with a front surface configured to refine the lignocellulosic material or disperge the comminuted paper or packaging products, and a back side, opposite to the front side, including a corner or edge, wherein the corner or edge comprises a casted surface between machined planar surfaces adjacent the corner or edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Gingras, Yves Raymond
  • Patent number: 9604227
    Abstract: An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ST. MARTIN INVESTMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Lieser, Brian Wenning, Jamey Brick
  • Patent number: 9597691
    Abstract: An improvement in an apparatus and a method produces a particle dispersion by processing a particle-carrying feedstock passed from a supply vessel through a bed of media contained within a containment wall having an inlet end and a longitudinally opposite terminal end. An auxiliary chamber surrounds the containment wall so that the feedstock is passed from the bed of media, through the containment wall and into the auxiliary chamber while the media is contained within the bed of media. An external pumping mechanism established a pressure differential that draws the feedstock into the containment wall and through the bed of media, then through the containment wall into the auxiliary chamber, and then out of the auxiliary chamber at a location juxtaposed with the containment wall between the inlet end and the terminal end, while maintaining a negative pressure within the supply vessel and within the auxiliary chamber during processing of the feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hockmeyer Equipment Corp.
    Inventors: Herman H. Hockmeyer, Barry W. Cullens
  • Patent number: 9597815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a food comminution device having a base part, which bears a cutting part, and having an actuation part, which actuation part is articulatedly fixed to the base part and can be pivoted from a loading position toward the cutting part into a closed position in order to push food items for comminution through the cutting part and can subsequently be pivoted from the closed position into the loading position again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Genius GmbH
    Inventor: Cedomir Repac
  • Patent number: 9592514
    Abstract: Process of press-granulating non-ductile salts and salt mixtures, such as kieserite (MgSO4·H2O), langbeinite (K2SO4·2MgSO4), polyhalide (K2SO4·MgSO4·2CaSO4·2H2O), arcanite (K2SO4) and anhydrite (CaSO4) for preparing stable, storable granulate, by pressing a mixture of fine grains of salt and a viscous, sugar-containing additive, such as molasses having a total sugar content in the dry matter of from 47 to 55%, by roller pressing at pressures up to 260 bar. The press scraps initially obtained, which are ductile, are solidified by maturing of the material at temperatures between 20 and 40° C. and maturing times of 3 to 8 hours prior to crushing them in impact mills and sieving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: K-UTEC AG SALT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Stephan Kaps, Heinz Scherzberg, Barbara Heuchel
  • Patent number: 9592482
    Abstract: A system for processing material has a power supply and a machine having a hopper for receiving and passing material to an auger. The auger has a shaft with an axis about which it rotates, a helical flighting mounted to the shaft, pins mounted to the helical flighting, and paddles mounted to the shaft. The radial outer edge of the helical flighting is crenelated with periodic notches that form rectangular blades on the helical flighting. The pins are rotationally and angularly aligned with leading edges of the rectangular blades. The system may include a vehicle, such as a trailer, having first and second compartments separated by a partition. The power supply is located in the first compartment and has a power supply member extending though the partition. The machine is located in the second compartment and coupled to the power supply member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tony S. Piotrowski, Jack D. Coulter, Bruce A. Hartzell
  • Patent number: 9586764
    Abstract: A mineral material processing plant includes a frame and a screen which is supported on the frame of the processing plant, and a conveyor which is fixed in connection with the screen for transporting material to be processed by the screen. The support of the conveyor relative to the screen includes a four-bar linkage mechanism, and pivot points of the four-bar linkage mechanism are arranged in support arms which are fixed pivotably in connection with the screen, and the conveyor is arranged to be moved further from the screen and closer to the screen by the movement of the four-bar linkage. A method for operating a processing plant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Metso Minerals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vesa-Matti Salminen, Iiro Nikkila
  • Patent number: 9586209
    Abstract: A mineral material crusher and method of operating a mineral material crusher that includes: a body, a rotating crusher element, a drive shaft arrangement that supports the rotating crusher element to the body and to rotate the rotating crusher element, and a motor including a rotor for driving the drive shaft arrangement. The motor is formed inside the rotating crusher element and the drive shaft arrangement is configured to form of the rotor a rotating axle that is rigidly coupled with the rotating crusher element and capable of leading torque from the rotor to the rotating crusher element for rotating the crusher element around the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Metso Minerals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Rikkonen, Jari Jonkka, Marko Salonen, Risto Sutti, Kari Kuvaja, Petri Kujansuu
  • Patent number: 9586210
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for comminuting a polycrystalline silicon rod, which apparatus includes a base, at least one movable comminuting tool and optionally at least one immovable anvil. A silicon rod to be comminuted lies on a longitudinal axis oriented parallel or virtually parallel to the surface of the base and can be adjusted between the comminuting tool and anvil. Also disclosed is a method for comminuting a polycrystalline silicon rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Joachim Mattes, Peter Gruebl, Siegfried Riess
  • Patent number: 9578991
    Abstract: An open hole food grater is provided. A hole is etched into the blade such that a cutting angle is formed with the plane of the cutting surface and the point at which the same meets the hole. This design of the open hole food grater not only increases the efficiency of food grating by allowing the use of the same in two cutting directions, it also eliminates all protrusions from the plane of the cutting surface. This substantially reduces any chance of a user being cut by coming into contact with the plan of the food cutting surface of the grater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Dwayne Smith, Benjamin Stanley Willis
  • Patent number: 9574246
    Abstract: An improved two roll sugarcane crushing mill with a semi closed frame having a plurality of improved two roll mill modules in tandem. Each improved two roll mill modules has a bottom roll and top roll, the bottom roll being rotatingly mounted in a pair of main frames at the two ends and the top roll is rotatingly mounted in a pair of top beams. One end of each of the top beams being pivotedly attached near the upper end of the main frame towards feed side for swinging the top beams along with the top roll. A hydraulic loader is provided which is pivotally attached between the end of the top beam and the base of the main frame. The semi closed frame fitted at the bottom end to the base of the Head Stock is designed to bear the forces of heavy and fluctuating loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Bhausaheb Nikam, Sachin Nikam
  • Patent number: 9572370
    Abstract: Dynamic crusher for treading fruit, particularly grapes, with a treading chamber having, when considering the direction of the path followed by the fruit in the crusher, an upstream fruit-introduction opening, a downstream discharge opening for discharging the must that results from the treading, a rotary ejector that allows kinetic energy to be imparted to the fruit introduced into the treading chamber, and allows the fruit to be cast against a fixed fruit-bursting wall, wherein the rotary ejector is mounted such that it can rotate about a vertical axis and a fixed fruit-bursting wall is positioned around the rotary ejector or facing the peripheral edge thereof against which fruit is cast, rotation of which allows the fruit to be cast, under the effect of centrifugal force, against the fixed fruit-bursting wall, causing the fruit to burst. A method for dynamically treading fruit using such a crusher is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: PELLENC (SOCIETE ANONYME)
    Inventors: Roger Pellenc, Magali Bes, Alain Samson, Jean-Michel Salmon
  • Patent number: 9573135
    Abstract: A shredder is disclosed. The shredder includes a housing having a throat for receiving at least one article to be shredded, and a shredder mechanism received in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. The shredder mechanism enables the at least one article to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements. The motor is operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein. The shredder also includes a detector that is configured to detect a thickness of the at least one article being received by the throat, and a controller that is operable to perform a predetermined operation responsive to the detector detecting that the thickness of the at least one article is at least equal to a predetermined maximum thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: FELLOWES, INC.
    Inventors: Tai Hoon K. Matlin, Eric Gach
  • Patent number: 9574334
    Abstract: In one aspect, a cutter system for a waste disposal may generally include a cutter ring having an upper surface and a lower surface. In addition, the cutter ring may define a plurality of cutter slots. Each cutter slot may extend between a top end and a bottom end and may be defined by a first curved sidewall and a second curved sidewall. The first and second curved sidewalls may extend between the top and bottom ends such that each cutter slot defines a curved profile extending axially and circumferentially between the upper and lower surfaces of the cutter ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Emil Gormley, Raymond James VanAssche
  • Patent number: 9572458
    Abstract: In a food processing device, an adjustable food processing tool includes a central hub having a fixed blade and an articulating blade extending outwardly therefrom. The articulating blade is adjustable relative to a pitch of the blade between substantially vertical and horizontal positions. An external adjustment assembly is disposed on a base unit of the food processing device for adjusting the pitch of the articulating blade, wherein the pitch of the articulating blade can be adjusted while a food processing procedure is being conducted. The adjustable food processing tool is configurable between a chopping configuration and a stir configuration, thereby providing for a single food processing tool that can be used for a multitude of food processing functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Conti
  • Patent number: 9573138
    Abstract: The roller mill for grinding of material to be ground prescribed by the invention has a grinding table and at least one grinding roller which works with the grinding table, whereby a water lance for applying water to the material to be ground is placed in the rotation direction of the grinding table in front of the grinding roller. The water lance is designed to rotate and means for rotating the water lance are provided in order to specifically influence the exposure time of the water to the material to be ground before the material to be ground is gathered by the grinding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Bjoern Olaf Assmann, Joerg Petring, Guido Kache
  • Patent number: 9566586
    Abstract: A recycling separator system utilizes at least one, and preferably a series of cutters, which may be contained in sections whereby input is combined with fluid and directed through the cutters, such as in series, and then settled material may be removed through one of traps and sinks as at least a component of a first recycled material while floating material may be removed through float outputs as at least a component of a second recycled material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Unique Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony B. Manis