Patents Examined by Michael Collins
  • Patent number: 11759397
    Abstract: A pharmacy tray for medications and medical items for patient treatment is placed onto a shelf that carries a grid of optical presence sensors. The location and identification of each item in the tray is recorded on a digital inventory for that tray. At the patient treatment site each item taken is recorded and the remaining inventory is updated without scanning the items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: S&SX-ray Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman A. Shoenfeld
  • Patent number: 11760570
    Abstract: A storage array system including an open undeterministic transport surface, a navigation array disposed in connection with the transport surface, the navigation array includes a distributed feature, a first waypoint at a first position of the distributed feature, a second waypoint displaced from the first waypoint along the distributed feature and offset with respect to the first waypoint in a direction angled to the distributed feature, and a guided bot, arranged to traverse the transport surface, with a non-holonomic steering system, the guided bot having a bot pose determination system employing sensor data detecting the distributed feature, wherein the guided bot includes a controller configured to generate a substantially smooth curved bot traverse path on the transport surface connecting the first and second waypoints with a predetermined optimal trajectory of the guided bot along the traverse path determined based on a bot dynamic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Edward A MacDonald, Forrest Buzan, John F Keating, Juergen D Conrad, Armin Ataei-Esfahani
  • Patent number: 11756669
    Abstract: Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Chudy Group, LLC
    Inventors: Duane S. Chudy, Larry Montgomery, James Spernow
  • Patent number: 11751603
    Abstract: A container for an organic smoking material includes a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber adjacent to and separated from the second chamber, the housing defining a first opening providing access to the first chamber at the first end of the housing, and the housing defining a second opening providing access to the second chamber at the first end of the housing, the housing defining a recessed portion that includes a protuberance extending into the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Buddy Box, LLC
    Inventor: Harold Scot Goradesky
  • Patent number: 11753055
    Abstract: Control architecture for use with transport systems, such as linear drive systems, rotary drive systems, or a combination thereof, comprising a computer system having a controller for operating control system software for receiving input commands and protocols for creating a motion profile for each transport element, and a gateway for receiving the motion profile from the control system software and for operating gateway drive software that functions to select the appropriate drives to move each transport element along one or more tracks in accordance with their motion profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11734988
    Abstract: A mobile medical supplies distribution system may include a transportable chassis forming part of a motorized vehicle; a service compartment configured to house a person serving as a medical supplies distribution service agent; a supply of select medical supplies; and one or more delivery drones configured to deliver medical supplies from the service compartment to a location remote from the service compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Meredith Beveridge, Michael J. Maciolek, Robert Wiseman Simpson, Daniel Christopher Bitsis, Jr., Bobby Lawrence Mohs, Manfred Amann, Emily Margaret Gray, Donnette Moncrief Brown
  • Patent number: 11730675
    Abstract: A medicine removal detection system is provided that includes a medication device and a storage member in a sheet shape storing the medication device. The medication device includes medicine, a secondary battery, and a signal transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating a state of the secondary battery. The storage member includes the electric current supply line for supplying an electric current to the secondary battery of the medication device, and is configured such that a supply environment of an electric current to the secondary battery changes when the medication device is taken out. The signal transmission unit transmits a signal indicating a state change of the secondary battery based on a change in the supply environment of an electric current to the secondary battery of the storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Risa Chiba, Takanori Nakamura, Kosuke Hamada, Takaaki Asada
  • Patent number: 11723479
    Abstract: An indicator device comprises an indicator member (102, 222, 330) moveable between first and second positions, a switch means (152, 252, 352) engageable by the indicator member when the indicator member is in the second position, a signal generating means (160, 260, 360) for generating a data signal, connected to the switch means, a signal transmitting means (158, 258, 358) connected to the signal generating means for wirelessly transmitting the data signal and an electrical power source (162, 262, 362) for supplying electrical power to the signal generating means and the signal transmitting means, wherein the device is configured to generate and transmit a data signal on actuation of the switch means. The invention also includes a dispensing device comprising such an indicator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Stephen William Clarke
  • Patent number: 11713234
    Abstract: Athletes in an athletic organization are provided access to a network of beverage dispensers associated with the organization. User profiles for each of the athletes are actively synchronized on the beverage dispensers within the network in response to changes to any of the user profiles. The user profiles are centrally maintained on a profile database and each profile includes performance parameters and personal parameters. Different users are given different levels of access to the user profiles. Each athlete is given access to view their entire profile and make modifications to personal parameters in their profile. Likewise, trainers or other training staff of the athletic organization are given access to view personal parameters of athlete's profiles and access to make modifications to performance parameters. Upon receiving a selection of an athlete's profile, a dispenser in the network is configured according to the personal and performance parameters stored in their profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Franchot Chang, Joshua Casey Schwarber, Augusto Elias, Jed Lawton Coxon, Martin Kilcoyne
  • Patent number: 11707415
    Abstract: There is provided a medicine management system capable of checking a receipt status and a dosage stage of delivered medicines even at a delivery source. The medicine management system includes a management server for managing a receipt status and a dosage status of medicines to be delivered, a first terminal having a function of notifying the management server of information indicating receipt of medicines when the medicines have been received, a second terminal having a function of notifying the management server of information indicating dosage of medicines when the medicines have been taken, and a third terminal having a function of acquiring from the management server and displaying information on a receipt status and a dosage status of medicines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM TOYAMA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masanobu Takashima
  • Patent number: 11710364
    Abstract: The invention provides a system to physically dispense an item, including tangible items and/or services or features, on-site from a dispenser whereby the item to be dispensed is selected by the system based on user-specific or item-specific information. In an embodiment, the system selects the dispensed item based on both user-specific and item-specific information. In another embodiment the invention comprises a system that activates gaming features in a gaming device based on user-specific information. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a system incorporated into an interactive amusement system to activate features of a playfield based on user-specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ZITO LLC
    Inventor: Arthur J. Zito, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11702295
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a plurality of transport modules forming a transport path on which a carriage that transports a workpiece travels, and a control unit that controls a position of the carriage on the plurality of transport modules based on a drive instruction, and the control unit corrects the drive instruction during carriage motion that is based on the drive instruction and stops the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Umeyama, Hidetada Narahara, Shinichiro Takahama, Takeshi Yamamoto, Koji Tomoda
  • Patent number: 11705236
    Abstract: Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Chudy Group, LLC
    Inventors: Duane S. Chudy, Larry Montgomery, James Spernow
  • Patent number: 11699320
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical dispensing machine comprising a plurality of modules, said plurality of modules comprise one or more sensors configured to monitor at least one pharmaceutical during a pharmaceutical dispensing process and alert when said at least one pharmaceutical is not detected by at least one of said one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Tech Pharmacy Services, LLC
    Inventors: Omer Einav, Doron Shabanov, Tamir Ben David, Anthony Joseph Spero, Eyal Livschitz, Thomas A. Mckinney, Moshe Liberman
  • Patent number: 11696873
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medicine box, including a housing, a door, a first clamping member, and a second clamping member, a cavity is formed inside the housing, the housing has an opening on a top surface; an end of the door is rotatably connected with one side of the housing at the opening, an end of the first clamping member is connected with the other end of the door, and the other end of the first clamping member includes a first magnetic portion; an end of the second clamping member is connected with the other side of the housing at the opening, and the other end of the second clamping member includes a second magnetic portion; and a clamping area with a changeable size is formed between the first magnetic portion and the second magnetic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventor: Zhenyu Gu
  • Patent number: 11694783
    Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus includes a housing for at storing at least one medication in bulk, a dispenser, and a verification sensor. The at least one medication including a plurality of doses of the at least one medication. The dispenser separates a single dose from the at least one medication in bulk. The dispenser moves the single dose of the at least one medication from a position within the housing to a position outside the housing. The verification sensor verifies that the at least one medication is a correct medication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: NOSORTMEDS INC, A MINNESOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: John R. Williamson, David R. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11694781
    Abstract: The following relates generally to facilitating delivery of prescription medication. In some embodiments, a pharmacy computer system: (i) receives a prescription, (ii) reviews the prescription, and (iii) sends the prescription to an intermediate cloud layer. The intermediate cloud layer may then determine a warehouse to send the prescription to based on at least one criteria. The at least one criteria may comprise at least one of: (i) a health insurance plan; (ii) whether the medication comprises a controlled substance; (iii) whether the medication must be refrigerated during shipping; (iv) a warehouse shipping address; or (v) a fulfillment cap of a warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
    Inventors: Matthew Cook, Rex A. Swords, Michael Bleser, William Sunna
  • Patent number: 11684201
    Abstract: A beverage-dispensing machine (10), for example, a machine for preparing coffee at home, is configured for being positioned in at least one first position and at least one second position that are rotated (a) with respect to one another about an axis of orientation (X10). The machine (10) comprises a user-interface element (20) carried by the machine in a rotatable way about the aforesaid axis of orientation (X10), with the interface element (20) that is configured to maintain a certain spatial orientation independently of the position of the machine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Luigi Lavazza S.p.A.
    Inventor: Florian Seidl
  • Patent number: 11688223
    Abstract: Provided herein are automated article dispensing systems having inventory management capabilities, and methods for managing inventory of articles in automated dispensing systems. In particular, the systems and methods disclosed herein utilize an inventory management assembly which includes one or more sensors configured to detect directly or indirectly one or more parameters related to quality and/or quantity the articles and an inventory management processing module configured to compute inventory related data based at least on the one or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: POLYTEX TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Tomer Poliner, Etgar Marcus
  • Patent number: 11684206
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing a beverage, more particularly, for a vehicle comprising: —a brewing unit (2) for receiving a dose (3) of beverage ingredients, —a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit, —an electronic control unit (5) for selectively controlling the activation of the pressure pump, wherein the electronic control unit (5) is arranged to control the activation and deactivation of the pressure pump (4), by providing output to the pressure pump as response to input indicative of a determined inclination angle relative to horizontal and/or to a detected spatial displacement or acceleration; said input being received from inclination angle and/or displacement sensing means (6) which are part of and/or foreign to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Adrien Hoffet, Marco Magatti, Damien Romand, Jean-Luc Thuliez