Patents Examined by Saul Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11254025
    Abstract: Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Steven L. Aylsworth
  • Patent number: 11247884
    Abstract: A fork lift apparatus is mounted on a truck for picking up a load, placing the load in a traveling position on the truck, and for unloading the load. The apparatus comprises a lift frame, a shaft, a pair of spaced arms secured to the shaft, a cross member spanning between the distal ends of the arms distal and carrying the forks. The cross member is rotatable relative to the support arms. A pair of drive hydraulic cylinders rotates the shaft and thus moves the arms and the load between a loading/unloading position in which the load may be placed on the forks and the traveling position so that the load may be transported by the truck. A self-leveling system is provided for maintaining the load in a substantially level position as it moves between its loading/unloading and traveling positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Mobilift LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Bristow, Jeffrey D. Marsh
  • Patent number: 11247346
    Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes a holder, a gripping roller, and a lever. The gripping roller is housed within the holder and grips an object between the roller and an inner surface of the holder. The lever releases gripping of the object by pushing the gripping roller upward. Preferably, the holder includes two plate sections which support a weight of the gripping roller. An opening is located between the two plate sections. The opening receives insertion of the object. One of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Izumi, Hayato Mori, Masaru Takagi, Tomohiko Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 11242667
    Abstract: Provided is a work vehicle including a cabin and a loader work device. The work vehicle includes: a vehicle main body; a main body rear; front and rear wheels; a bucket; a lifting arm connected to the bucket to lift the bucket; a boom support connected to the lifting arm; a rear link having one end coupled to a first boom support hinge part of the boom support and an opposite end coupled to a rear hinge part of the main body rear; a boom cylinder having one end coupled to a second boom support hinge part of the boom support to rotate the boom support; and a rotation link having one end coupled to a third boom support hinge part of the boom support and an opposite end coupled to a front hinge part of the vehicle main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: DAEDONG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hun Jung Lee, Yong Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11240973
    Abstract: An artificially intelligent harvest and reuse system for planting vegetables has a first mechanic arm moving a plurality of planting plates around a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a first shelf and a second shelf. The planting plates are sent to a connecting conveyor for the grown vegetables thereon to be picked up by a second mechanic arm and further sent to a root cutting apparatus then to a packaging apparatus, while the empty planting plates are further sent to an exit end of the first conveyor and a third mechanic arm places nursery foams with sprouts from a storage area onto the empty planting plates. Then the refilled planting plates are sent back to the corresponding shelf via the second conveyor and placed back into the corresponding layers neatly by the first mechanic arm on a first distributing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Sunpower Grand Holdings Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Chien Wu, Li-Jen Wu, Hsin-Lan Wu
  • Patent number: 11235693
    Abstract: A container transport system for transporting an intermodal freight container includes: a tow assembly pivotally coupled to a tow vehicle, the tow assembly including a support frame, a boom assembly mounted on the support frame, the boom assembly having a boom frame and a lifting actuator mounted on the boom frame; a lift beam shaped to attach to an end of the intermodal freight container, the lift beam mechanically associated with the lifting actuator; a dolly removably coupled to one of the tow assembly and tow vehicle, the dolly including a bogey frame including a plurality of wheels attached to the bogey frame, a pair of brackets located on sides of the bogey frame, the brackets spaced apart such that a width of the intermodal freight container fits between the paid of brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Albert Stanley Weatherby, III, Michael Preson Brackins, Tyler Zachary Rice
  • Patent number: 11235926
    Abstract: A load storage system is provided for holding standardized containers including a first stocker for being positioned on a first story and a second stocker for being positioned on a second story. The first and second stockers each include at least one load support for supporting the standardized containers. A floor is positioned between the first and second stockers. The floor defines a portal between and directly connecting the first and second stockers. The portal is positioned in alignment with the load supports in the first and second stockers. A vertical transfer device is positioned in alignment with the load supports in the first and second stockers and is configured to move the standardized containers through the portal between the first and second stockers. A method of operating the load storage system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: DAIFUKU AMERICA CORPORATION, DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuki Il, Akira Okamoto, Kazuya Omori
  • Patent number: 11232965
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a transport system and a substrate processing and transfer (SPT) system. The SPT system includes a transport system that connects two processing tools. The transport system includes a vacuum tunnel that is configured to transport substrates between the processing tools. The vacuum tunnel includes a substrate transport carriage to move the substrate through the vacuum tunnel. The SPT system has a variety of configurations that allow the user to add or remove processing chambers, depending on the process chambers required for a desired substrate processing procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Newman, Ulrich Oldendorf, Martin Aenis, Andrew J. Constant, Shay Assaf, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Alexander Berger, William Tyler Weaver
  • Patent number: 11224975
    Abstract: A method of separating a blank from a stack of blanks is provided and includes grasping a first blank and moving the first blank away from a plurality of blanks. At least one additional blank from the plurality of blanks is adhered to the first blank to form a sub-stack of blanks and at least one impulse electrically generated force (EGF) is applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank. The first blank may be grasped by a device with a force F1, and the at least one impulse EGF may be less than the force F1. Also, the at least one impulse EGF may be applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank by passing a pulse of current through an EGF generator positioned adjacent the first blank and inducing an EGF within the plurality of blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael Degner, S. George Luckey, Jr., Chris Wolf, Alan Gillard
  • Patent number: 11220406
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an apparatus including a bin sweep arm, a floor support in contact with a floor surface, and a vertical adjustment assembly positioned between floor support and the bin sweep arm and connected to the floor support and the bin sweep arm, wherein the vertical adjustment assembly automatically raises the bin sweep arm off the floor surface and automatically lowers the bin sweep arm to the floor surface in response to changes in weight disposed on the bin sweep arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Sudenga Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan G. Hoogestraat
  • Patent number: 11222803
    Abstract: A stocker includes a wall that separates an inside and an outside of the stocker, a storage area on an inner side of the wall and in which articles are stored, a fan on the wall to draw in outside air and introduce the outside air into the inside of the stocker, a control panel storage provided on the inner side of the wall and laterally to the storage area to store a control panel, a first thermal insulation layer on a wall side of the control panel storage, and a second thermal insulation layer on a storage area side of the control panel storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Kusama, Toru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11214967
    Abstract: A roof rock spreader has a rock hopper and a motive drive system. An optical system detects areas already treated and areas still in need of treatment. Location aware sensors detect present location and speed of travel. A control system determines proper application paths and locations, and controls application of roof rock to provide an even and consistent layer. When the rock hopper empties, the roof rock spreader will move to a refill location. A laser alignment system detects and confirms proper hopper positioning prior to automated refill. During the refilling procedure, wheel load sensors monitor hopper fill. Rock hopper refill may be limited, to accommodate gross vehicle weight limitations of a particular roof. A communication system provides remote viewing through the optical system or other camera to confirm proper function, provides remote emergency shut-off, and enables a plurality of like spreaders to work in unison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Scepaniak IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kurtis D. Scepaniak, Michael S. Marquette, Travis M. Marquette
  • Patent number: 11214284
    Abstract: A cargo transporting vehicle configured to travel along a path of a work site is provided. The cargo transporting vehicle includes: a traveling unit configured to travel on the path; a plate configured to load a cargo thereon; a loading unit including at least an articulated arm structure in which a width and an extendable length are adjusted according to dimensions of the cargo, the articulated arm structure being configured to load and unload the cargo onto and from the plate; and a plate lifting unit configured to raise or lower the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: LAB TO MARKET INC.
    Inventors: Yoon Seok Chang, Nam Uook Kim, Jeong In Lee
  • Patent number: 11208023
    Abstract: A Trailer Loading/Unloading System may comprise a tilting flatbed trailer having one or more push bars configured to move along the surface of the trailer bed push palletized cargo off the trailer, move palletized cargo back and forth on the trailer, and prevent rapid descent or undesirable slipping of palletized cargo. Each of the push bars may be secured between a chain on the left side of the trailer bed and a chain on the right side of the trailer bed. These two chains may loop around a rear guide shaft at the rear of the trail and a front guide bar shaft at the front of the trailer. The guide shafts may be secured beneath the surface of the trailer, and may include sprockets around which the chains loop. A motor, e.g., a winch, may be secured to the trailer and may drive, using a sprocket and chain running around a shaft protruding from the motor, one of the guide shafts, e.g., the front shaft, by turning a sprocket mechanically secured to the front guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Randall Boyd Marble
  • Patent number: 11211277
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a transfer region communicating with a process chamber where substrates are processed; a first shelf region installed above the transfer region and having a first shelf storing transfer vessels accommodating the substrates; a second shelf region installed below a stage part where the vessels to be transferred to and from an external device are loaded, and having a second shelf stacking and storing the transfer vessels; and a transfer vessel transfer robot installed inside a housing accommodating the transfer region, the first shelf region and the second shelf region and transferring the vessels to and from the stage part, the first shelf, the second shelf, and the transfer region. The transfer vessel transfer robot includes: a main body base part; a first table part; a first driving part; a second table part; a second driving part; and a vessel support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Ito, Takayuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 11208308
    Abstract: An extension system for a bucket tractor includes a boom and a scaffold removably secured to a base configured to be supported with a bucket of a tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Chase Pearce
  • Patent number: 11208263
    Abstract: A storage and retrieval device storing and retrieving stored goods in and from rack compartments with shelf surfaces storing the stored goods and load-transferring rack guides extending in storing and retrieving direction. A receiving head has a lifting device for the stored goods and a load-bearing apparatus displaceable along the rack compartments. A conveyer moves the receiving head along the rack guides and has at least one shear-resistant traction apparatus that engages the receiving head and can be pushed out into one of the rack guides. The lifting device of the receiving head can be moved under the stored goods and has at least one lifting bar extending in the direction of the rack guides and is adjustable in height by deflecting gears distributed over the length of lifting bar that are acted upon in the direction of the rack guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Karl Angleitner
  • Patent number: 11198461
    Abstract: A dish cart includes a top with a slot for receiving a lift arm that may be lifted up through the slot to raise or lower dishes. Lobe openings emanating from the slot receive lobes of a lift paddle secured to the lift arm. The cart may define a gap below the top for permitting insertion of the lift paddle and the lift arm. The cart may be adjusted to receive differently sized dishes by means of rails of different sizes or adjustable vanes. A dish drop station includes the lift arm and lift paddle and a lift mechanism for raising and lower the lift arm. The dish drop station may include a cart present sensor and include a lock for retaining the cart. The controller may be programmed to the lower the lift arm to an unlock position that disengages the cart lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Dishcraft Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Young Lee, Michael William Tschudy, Taylor Joseph Cone
  • Patent number: 11197418
    Abstract: A dual-purpose agricultural cart for transporting and conditioning grain or other particulate material. The cart features a transportable frame, a holding container for receiving and holding the particulate material, a fan, and one or more airflow channels each having an inlet fed by the fan and at least one outlet positioned to open into the holding container at an elevation at or proximate a lower end of the holding container. The particulate material is aerated via upward fan-driven airflow from the outlet(s) of the one or more airflow channels. The same cart used to transport grain between a combine harvester and road transport vehicle during harvest can be used after harvest, or during harvest delays, the dry harvested grain before long term storage or long-distance transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Ryan J. Dennis
  • Patent number: 11198560
    Abstract: A material handling system has a vertical lift two vertically aligned carriages that are independently positionable on a vertical support structure by respective drive systems. A processor subsystem selects one of the two carriages to move an article from at least one in-feed conveyor to a selected level of an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). The processor subsystem concurrently positions the other carriage to avoid a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas K. Schack, Ralf Buerkle, Jonathon Cleary, Charles Christopher Lingamfelter