Patents Examined by Molly K Devine
  • Patent number: 11679394
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SA Recycling LLC
    Inventors: George Adams, Alex Meza, Clifford Glen Newby, Mike Adams
  • Patent number: 11661287
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hopper, in particular for a rock-crushing plant, a screening plant or the like having a side wall that bounds the hopper space, a wall broadening portion being pivotably coupled to the side wall, an auxiliary means for positioning in an upright state being assigned to the wall broadening portion in order to move the wall broadening portion from a folded-down transport position to an upright working position, and wherein the auxiliary means for positioning in an upright state has an actuator that is coupled to a pivotably mounted lever. In the context of such a hopper, in order to be able to easily move the wall broadening portion in a controlled and reliably manner between the transport position and the working position, it is provided according to the invention that the lever is pivotably coupled to an equalizing lever, and that the equalizing lever is pivotably coupled to the wall broadening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Elena Burgart, Christian Knoblich, Reiner Köpf
  • Patent number: 11654441
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled tramp metal separation assembly includes a core rod and a magnetic set. The core rod is made of non-magnetic materials and includes a chamber, a first end with an air inlet, and a second end with an air outlet. The magnetic set includes a plurality of magnetic members and a plurality of spacers respectively disposed between the two adjacent magnetic members. The magnetic set is nested in the chamber in a way that an air path is formed therein so that an external cooling air flow can be introduced from the air inlet, and then discharged from the air outlet via the air path. Thus, the operating temperature of the tramp metal separating process can be maintained at an acceptable level, preventing the magnetic force of the magnet set from being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TAI HAN EQUIPMENT ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shyh-Yi Wey, Wen-Cheng Chang, Ken-Der Lin, Bao-Ding Li, Kuen Ting Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11628450
    Abstract: A tramp metal removing device has a primary housing to define a product flow path for being passed by a stream of raw materials and a moving path. A secondary housing is connected to the primary housing. A plurality of drawer units are sequentially stacked on the primary housing and secondary housing. Each drawer unit has a frame, a plurality of magnetic members and a scraping assembly. The frame is coupled with the primary and secondary housings in a movable way. Each of magnetic members is secured on the frame and has a magnetic section and a non-magnetic section. The scraping assembly is coupled with the frame in a way that it is only moveable in the secondary housing for removing tramp metals of a stream of raw materials in a two-stage manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAI HAN EQUIPMENT ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shyh-Yi Wey, Wen-Cheng Chang, Kuen Ting Hsieh, Ken-Der Lin, Bao-Ding Li, Rong-Huei Wang, Jia-Ying Hong, Fu-Chen Wang, Ho-Chi Kang
  • Patent number: 11622572
    Abstract: The machine for integral processing of fruits with a hard or soft shell disclosed herein comprises a feed hopper and at least a first receptacle having a first end for connection to said hopper and a second opposite end. The receptacle is positioned horizontally according to the longitudinal direction of the machine and comprises in its interior a central shaft positioned in accordance to the longitudinal direction of the machine and connected at one end to a rotating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Jose Vicente Roig Borrell
  • Patent number: 11607709
    Abstract: A centrifugal classifier including a classifier housing having at least one coarse material outlet and a classifier wheel, revolving in the classifier housing. The classifier wheel is comprised of a classifier drum and a classifier wheel shaft forming the axis of rotation of the classifier drum. A guide member is arranged near the coarse material outlet, at a set distance from the inner jacket surface of the classifier housing section surrounding the classifier drum. The guide member is configured such that classifying material flowing along the inner jacket surface at a radial distance less than or equal to the set distance circumvents the guide member and is discharged into the coarse material outlet and classifying material flowing along the inner jacket surface at a radial distance greater than the set distance is deflected in a radially inward direction toward the classifying drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NETZSCH-Feinmahltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Sergio Alegre
  • Patent number: 11590512
    Abstract: A magnetic separating apparatus and magnetic sorting method can precisely and efficiently separate magnetic and non-magnetic material with a simple structure. The apparatus includes a granular mixture supply portion that supplies a granular mixture so as to naturally fall; a rotating drum having a part of an outer surface located on a falling path of the granular mixture, the rotating drum being rotationally driven in an opposite direction relative to the falling direction of the granular mixture; a first magnet that imparts a magnetic attractive force to a certain area defined by rotation in the opposite direction with a sorting area as a starting point; a naturally falling area to which the granular mixture that has come into contact with the rotating drum naturally falls; and a conveyed falling area to which the granular mixture naturally falls after being magnetically attracted to and conveyed by the rotating drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ibi, Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11547959
    Abstract: A basket strainer insert having a body with one or more magnets disposed therein. The basket strainer insert includes a baffle to disrupt the flow of liquid through the basket strainer and facilitates the attraction of metallic particles to the body. The baffle has a plurality of lobes secured to the body with connection portions and separated from each other by gaps. The lobes may have an inward bend, an outward bend, or may be planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Metraflex Company
    Inventors: James R. Richter, Martin I. Rogin, Kathleen Elizabeth Bollito, Ganesh Appasaheb Patil
  • Patent number: 11541427
    Abstract: Method for sorting corn kernels of a batch of corn kernels, the method comprising the steps of: laying the corn kernel on a support surface, the corn kernel having a resting surface in contact with the support surface, and an upper surface opposite the resting surface, acquiring at least one orientation image of the corn kernel with an orientation imaging system, the orientation imaging system having a modality adapted to enable structural features of the corn kernel to be measured, determining an orientation of the corn kernel with respect to the support surface based on the structural features of the corn kernel measured on the orientation image, sorting the corn kernel as a function of the orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: LIMAGRAIN EUROPE
    Inventors: Ali Boudjedra, Serge Dubois, Guénaël Robic, Régis Brassart
  • Patent number: 11504745
    Abstract: Provided is an item sorting system and method. The system includes: a supply end configured to provide a to-be-sorted item in the first area; a moving transport apparatus configured to transport the to-be-sorted item in a second area; and an item receiving apparatus configured to receive the to-be-sorted item in a third area. The second area and the third are arranged in order without overlapping with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hongbo Li
  • Patent number: 11460380
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a sample material includes comminuting the sample material in a comminuting device, supplying the sample material to a press to press the sample material, wherein the sample material is received on a press ram of the press, and generating a magnetic field and magnetizing iron particles contained in the sample material with a magnet, such that the iron particles accumulate in a region within the sample material facing toward the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Reinhard Teutenberg
  • Patent number: 11458509
    Abstract: The invention concerns a sorter having a base element that can be swiveled around a horizontal swivel axis with a number of support surfaces uniformly arranged about the swivel axis. Each of the support surfaces can be swiveled into a conveyor for conveying a product along a product stream and swiveled out of the conveyor for ejection of a product from the product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Wipotec GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Schulzki, Matthias Joachim
  • Patent number: 11421398
    Abstract: A padding machine for moving along a side of a ditch, scooping up excavated material from the side of the ditch, and sifting the excavated material into padding material for falling in the ditch comprises a frame comprising side frame members and frame rails spaced apart from the side frame members. A screening belt is driven around pulleys supported by the frame. The screening belt comprises a screen for collecting and conveying the excavated material upwardly. The screen comprises apertures for sifting the excavated material into padding material by permitting the padding material to fall through the apertures of the screen. The screen runs over the frame rails which support the screen. A discharge conveyor is mounted to the frame beneath an upper run of the screening belt. The discharge conveyor receives the padding material passing through the screen and discharges the padding material into the ditch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ESI PIPELINE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Dunstan, Chris Argue, David Jakus, Larry Owens, Rob Khaler, Matthew Walz, Reece Grywul
  • Patent number: 11413625
    Abstract: A magnetic isolating apparatus (10) for isolating magnetic particles (66) from a suspension has an immersion section (30) which is designed to be temporarily immersed in the suspension, a guide apparatus (16) which extends along a guide path (F), a magnet arrangement (18) which is guided by the guide apparatus (16) such that it can be moved between an active position which is situated close to the immersion section (30) and an inactive position which is positioned further away from the immersion section (30) along the guide path (F), so that a magnetic field in the region of the immersion section (30) can be changed by moving the magnet arrangement (18) between the active position and the inactive position, and a drive apparatus (22, 50) by which the magnet arrangement (18) can be driven to move at least in a direction between the active position and the inactive position, wherein the drive apparatus (22, 50) is coupled in a non-physical manner to the magnet arrangement (18) by a force field and/or a fluid so
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Bonaduz AG
    Inventors: Ingo Schwaiger, Hanspeter Romer
  • Patent number: 11396033
    Abstract: A separation device includes a separation unit that has a first ejection unit having a first ejection port for depositing a material containing a fiber on a first surface, and a first suction unit having a first suction port for sucking from the first surface toward a second surface so that at least a part thereof overlaps the first ejection port, a second suction unit provided at a position different from the first ejection port and having a second suction port for sucking from the second surface toward the first surface, a detection unit that detects information on foreign matter contained in the material ejected from the first ejection port, an input unit that inputs a detection result of the detection unit, and a control unit that controls a separation condition in the separation unit based on the information input to the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Inagaki, Naoko Omagari
  • Patent number: 11344919
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated sweepers for item sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example item sortation system may include an aisle, a number of chutes accessible from the aisle, a shuttle configured to transport first items from an induction portion of the item sortation system to a first chute of the plurality of chutes, and a robotic sweeping system disposed in the aisle. The robotic sweeping system may be configured to sweep second items on a floor of the aisle to a first end of the item sortation system. The robotic sweeping system may include a motor and a sweeping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jose Luis De La Rosa, Larry Robb, Justin Stone
  • Patent number: 11325162
    Abstract: Provided is a bolt screening machine, including an external frame, a feeding mechanism, and a screening mechanism, wherein the feeding mechanism and the screening mechanism are combined with and mounted on the external frame, the unscreened bolts are fed into the screening mechanism through the feeding mechanism, and the screening mechanism screens and arranges the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Zhihua Feng, Junfang Ni, Xiangjun Lan
  • Patent number: 11318500
    Abstract: The composition of articles can be identified using luminescent codes printed or coated onto the articles (or labels on the articles) by means of an ink which contains long persistence luminescent materials. Radiation is used to excite the luminescent materials and this is then extinguished before the article passes beneath a spectrometer. An infrared beam then strikes the article in order to stimulate emission from the long persistence luminescent materials, via a detrapping mechanism, and the spectrometer detects the emission in order to identify the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Gregory Harris, George Robert Fern, Jack Silver
  • Patent number: 11292010
    Abstract: A magnetic drum separator is provided. The drum separator includes a drum and a pulley arrangement that rotates the drum. The drum separator includes an end plate coupled to the drive assembly, and the drive assembly rotates the end plate with the drum. The end plate includes a radially oriented slot. A plurality of magnets is disposed in the drum, and the magnets are attached to the end plates and rotatable with the drum. A cam assembly is disposed in the drum and remains stationary during rotation of the drum. The cam assembly includes a cam with a cam track formed therein. The magnets have a cam follower located in the cam track and an end plate follower located in the slot of the end plate. The cam track and the radially oriented slot guide the plurality of magnets to move radially inwards and outwards as the magnets rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Farquhar, Derek Mackay
  • Patent number: 11278935
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator including a separator housing and a separator wheel revolving in the housing. The separator housing has an inlet for material, a coarse material outlet, and a fine material outlet. The wheel is formed by a drum and a wheel shaft, which supports the drum and rotates around a horizontal axis. The circumferential jacket surface of the drum is interrupted such that it sets the material to be separated, which hits the drum on the outer jacket side, into rotation during operation and the separation air flows through it in the radially inwards direction. The fine material outlet is arranged on the end of the drum and fine material is discharged from the interior of the drum into the fine material outlet via the free front face of the drum. The wheel shaft consists of two parts, which are not directly connected to one another in a supporting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: NETZSCH-Feinmahltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Sergio Alegre