Patents Examined by Michael Collins
  • Patent number: 11365564
    Abstract: A drawer assembly is described that includes one or more mini-drawer assemblies. A mini-drawer assembly comprises a sliding tab along a rear-to-front axis, a release mechanism coupled to the sliding tab, and a body having a body bottom coupled from the body bottom to the sliding tab. The body may slide over the sliding tab. The mini-drawer assembly may include a plurality of compartments in the body and a plurality of lids that are hingedly coupled to the compartments. Each lid may have a respective fastening element. A plurality of latches may couple to the body such that each latch is coupled to a corresponding compartment. The latch may hold the respective fastening element of the lid. When the body is pulled out along the rear-to-front axis, the release mechanism may engage with the latch to release the respective fastening element and to unlatch the lid of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Rahilly
  • Patent number: 11354968
    Abstract: A pill-dispensing system includes a base including a first processor and a storage, a container for pills carried by the base, and a dispenser mechanism. A data store includes an authorization code and instructions. A second processor is coupled to the data store, is in communication with the first processor, and is programmed to receive from the first processor a code associated with the container, compare the code to the authorization code, and retrieve and serve the instructions to the first processor upon the code matching the authorization code. The first processor is programmed, upon receiving the instructions from the second processor, to download to the storage the instructions that when executed by the first processor cause the first processor to effectuate a dispensing of pills from the container by the dispenser mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Troy G. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11351071
    Abstract: Tampon dispensing devices and methods for using the same are provided. In some embodiments, a tampon dispensing device includes a display that presents one or more codes for receiving a tampon, an actuator that is connected to a spindle structure that dispenses the tampon from a plurality of tampons stored in a storage unit, and a controller that is connected to the display and the actuator, where the controller is configured to: receive, from a server, a code for dispensing one of the plurality of tampons; present the received code on the display; receive, from the server, a request to dispense one of the plurality of tampons from the storage unit; and transmit an instruction to the actuator that causes the actuator to rotate a spindle structure such that the tampon is dispensed from the storage unit into a dispensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Huge, LLC
    Inventors: Stephanie Loffredo, Zachary Chase Saale
  • Patent number: 11351093
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for a healthcare management service are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Emanuele Musini, Aiden Y. Feng, James Malcolm Andrew Wyman, Emanuele Baglini, Antonello Scalmato, Paolo Vernazza, Simone Denei, Andrea Dulach, Alfonso Desiderio, Luca Petacchi
  • Patent number: 11348675
    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: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Chudy Group, LLC
    Inventors: Duane S. Chudy, Larry Montgomery, James Spernow
  • Patent number: 11348399
    Abstract: A medication storage and dispensing system that includes a plurality of cavities that can be used to securely store and dispense pills and other medications in a secure, traceable and controlled environment. The system allows for the secure transport and dispensing, while allowing the tracking of inventory. The system provides reminders of when the medication should be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: David J Sanso, David W Sanso
  • Patent number: 11337547
    Abstract: Ingredient level consumption guidance methods and control systems in beverage mixture dispensing systems are disclosed. A disclosed method for operating a beverage mixture dispensing system includes setting an ingredient consumption threshold for an ingredient. The ingredient consumption threshold is associated with an account. The method also includes mixing a beverage using an amount of the ingredient, dispensing the beverage, updating an ingredient consumption level associated with the account, by adding the amount to the ingredient consumption level, and displaying, on a display, the ingredient consumption level and the ingredient consumption threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Cana Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Posner, Anthony Prats, Shaun Lind
  • Patent number: 11339547
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for dispensing a travel path applicant. For example, a computing entity can monitor the location of a maintenance vehicle and/or its travel path to dispense travel path applicants accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Nagesh Kadaba
  • Patent number: 11338254
    Abstract: Systems and methods that implement a GUI functional block that allows a user to specify a compounding formula for a composition, an ingredient validation functional block configured for receiving a code on a container holding a first ingredient, consulting a database to derive a formulation ingredient to be used in preparing the composition, determining if the first ingredient matches the formulation ingredient, a planetary mixer control functional block configured for consulting the database arrangement at least partly on a basis of the specified compounding formula to determine mixing parameters for a planetary mixer that are associated with the specified compounding formula, causing a motor assembly of the planetary mixer to apply superimposed rotation and revolution movements to a container in accordance with the mixing parameters determined from the consulting, preventing operation of the motor assembly if the determining step fails to match the first ingredient to the formulation ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Panagiota Danopoulos
  • Patent number: 11340245
    Abstract: A transport device transports a container used in a sample measurement device or a rack housing the container. The transport device may include: a robotic arm configured to transport the container or the rack between a first sample measurement device and each of other sample measurement devices different from the first sample measurement device; and a controller that controls operation of the robotic arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: SYSMEX CORPORATION, KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Nagai, Yuichiro Ohmae, Shinji Kamada, Toshiki Sato, Yukio Iwasaki, Satoshi Ouchi
  • Patent number: 11325782
    Abstract: A robotic picking apparatus, system and method of use thereof. A system comprising: a plurality of robotic picking apparatuses configured to pick an item from a container and place the item in a different place, wherein each robotic picking apparatus is configured to operate in one of at least three operational modes: an autonomous mode, a human-assisted mode, and a remote-controlled mode, wherein in the autonomous mode, the robotic picking apparatus operates without human input, wherein in the human-assisted mode, an operation plan is determined using human input and the operation plan is executed automatically without additional input from a human, wherein in the remote-controlled mode, movements of the robotic picking apparatus are controlled directly by a remote human user. Human users located at one or more remote sites provide the human input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: GET FABRIC LTD.
    Inventor: Ori Avraham
  • Patent number: 11312403
    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: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11311460
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for Secure Storage and Dispensing of Opioid (SSDO) or other controlled substances while providing remote assistance and monitoring. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a motorized medication tray for automatic dispensing of pills with optional blister pack containing sealed medication. The device further comprises of a secure tamper resistant housing mechanism, plurality of sensors along with a wireless communication module to notify the remote operators in case of illegal and unauthorized access. The current invention can be configured into multiple embodiments including but not limited to a mobile wearable device capable of attaching to a person's wrist, arm, foot and other body parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Gershoni, Farhad David Nosrati
  • Patent number: 11312581
    Abstract: A grasping system includes a robotic arm having a gripper. A fixed sensor monitors a grasp area and an onboard sensor moves with the gripper also monitors the area. A controller receives information indicative of a position of an object to be grasped and operates the robotic arm to bring the gripper into a grasp position adjacent the object based on information provided by the fixed sensor. The controller is also programmed to operate the gripper to grasp the object in response to information provided by the first onboard sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Jinmiao Huang, Sangeun Choi, Carlos Martinez
  • Patent number: 11308746
    Abstract: A method for access control accepts a first data from a first mobile computing device of a first patron. The first data is representative of at least a certificate and represents an authorization for access. The method further provides the access in response to the first data, and makes a record in the first station. The record includes a second data representing the access and an identifying portion of the certificate. The method further provides, after the access, a third data to a second mobile computing device of any patron. The third data is deliverable by the second mobile computing device to the management system and is representative of the record. The method further accepts a fourth data that is representative of at least an acknowledgment of the record, and deletes the record from the first station in response to the fourth data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Urban Intel, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Scott Outwater, William Gibbens Redmann
  • Patent number: 11308750
    Abstract: A system for dispensing sporting equipment sticks is provided. Embodiments have a controller that generates a release signal in response to a user completing a purchase of a selected sporting equipment stick that is secured within the sporting equipment stick vending machine; a plurality of securing latches each defining a lockable compartment that receives a portion of a shaft of a sporting equipment stick, and wherein each one of the plurality of securing latches open to release its respective sporting equipment stick in response to the release signal received from the controller; and a stick guide system with a plurality of restraining apertures that are configured to receive a portion of a handle of the sporting equipment stick, wherein a size of reach restraining aperture is sized to receive a proximal end of the sporting equipment stick. The securing latch and corresponding restraining aperture cooperatively secure the sporting equipment stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: V4HOCKEY LLC
    Inventors: Broderick Zorick, Kevin Roudebush
  • Patent number: 11305800
    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: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11297984
    Abstract: The present application provides a napkin dispenser for dispensing a number of folded napkins from a sheet material to an end user. The napkin dispenser may include a loading station for loading the sheet material, a folding station for folding a napkin from the sheet material, and a presentation station for presenting one or more of the folded napkins to the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Abby C. Case, David James Gennrich, Kent J. Kallsen, Stephen Andrew Latham, Christopher Timothy Strahm
  • Patent number: 11298296
    Abstract: A medication vending device is integrated into systems that ensure compliance with a medication dosing schedule of a patient. The medication vending device contains medication packages to be vended in accordance with the patient's dosing schedule. The system can check for prescription changes that occurred between the date of generation of the medication packages and the date of loading the medication packages into the medication vending device, and provide appropriate alert messages to inhibit loading of the medication packages into the medication vending device. In addition, post-loading prescription changes can be detected, and appropriate alert messages or actions can be taken regarding the medication packages currently loaded into the medication vending device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: MEDHERENT, LLC
    Inventors: Joel F. Feldman, Yeardley W. Green
  • Patent number: 11294342
    Abstract: A system for managing process automation with a macro bot is provided. By allowing for modifications to RPA bot behavior without changing the code of the RPA bots and providing for an efficient querying and reporting function, the system addresses a number of computer technology-centric challenges. The system allows the entity to push updates to bot behavior through a rules database without individually reconfiguring each bot. This ensures that the functionality of the bots may be updated for future entity needs and objectives while minimizing bot downtime. Furthermore, providing updates without changing the code of the bots allows the system to increase computing efficiency by reducing the demands on computer resources associated with applying a system-wide update, such as processing power, memory space, storage space, cache space, electric power, and networking bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nye Walter Allen, IV, Vinaykumar Mummigatti, Ryan Eric Davis