Patents Examined by Spencer H Kirkwood
  • Patent number: 11206862
    Abstract: A two stage system for extraction of oil from whole citrus fruit is provided. The first stage is known in the art and includes a first plurality of toothed rollers which convey citrus as the teeth penetrate and rupture oil glands. The oil passes into a first water pan. A novel second stage uses a second plurality of toothed rollers to continue the penetration and rupturing of oil glands. The second plurality of rollers are positioned in an isolated second pan to partially submerge the citrus. A middle phase liquor with extremely low oil concentration is transferred into said second pan to initiate desorption of oil from the citrus. The desorption technique in one embodiment increases yield by 4% or more. This technique is expected to increase yield even more as the recovery by the first stage is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Roger Waters, Carlos Valentin Gallo, Santiago Manuel Sosa, Victor Francisco Onchi Navarro
  • Patent number: 11183402
    Abstract: A laser annealing apparatus includes a laser oscillating structure, an oscillator, a beam expanding telescope, a first power meter, and a second power meter. The laser oscillating structure emits a first laser beam of a first wavelength and first beam cross-section to a substrate in a chamber including an optical window. The oscillator emits a second laser beam, of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, to the substrate. The beam expanding telescope is on an optical path for the second laser beam and expands the second laser beam to a second beam cross-section. The first and second power meters measure energy of the second laser beam and a third laser beam, generated as the second laser beam is reflected by the substrate. The first beam cross-section and the second beam cross-section may be equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joong-han Shin, Supakit Charnvanichborikarn, Bong-jin Kuh, Ki-chul Kim, Jae-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 11160145
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) heating system may include a removable drawer, which may be inserted under a fixed shelf of the RF heating system to form an enclosed cavity. The drawer may include conductive channels or side rails that may interface with the shelf of the defrosting system in order to electrically couple the drawer to the RF heating system. The drawer may include an electrode that is electrically coupled to ground or to a RF signal source when the drawer is inserted beneath the shelf. The shelf may include selectable electrodes of varying sizes. The RF heating system may use identification circuitry to recognize the type of drawer that has been inserted beneath the shelf. RF energy may be applied to the electrode of the drawer or the shelf to heat a load in the enclosed cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Paul Lester, Daniel Joseph Viza
  • Patent number: 11147408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic cooking pot notifying the completion of cooking. More specifically, provided is an automatic cooking pot which has a function of automatically notifying the optimal completion of a broth-based food, which retains a broth even when cooking is completed. Furthermore, if a user puts ingredients into the pot before the water boils, and selects a cooking menu wherein the same boiling time duration is set for the same menu regardless of the amount of food, the automatic cooking pot provided herewith notifies the user when the cooking is completed. In another embodiment, the user may adjust the boiling time duration to be set on a timer unit for the same food within a certain time range according to the amount of the food, on the basis of the variation in data in the boiling time durations depending on the amount of the food which have been measured through experiments beforehand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Kyung-Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 11083222
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 11054148
    Abstract: Floor and ceiling panels and methods of constructing a floor system for a building are described. In some embodiments, a panel includes a plurality of joists, a corrugated form deck disposed above and attached to the plurality of joists, a ceiling substrate disposed below and attached to the plurality of joists, and an in-floor radiant heat member disposed between the corrugated form deck and the ceiling substrate. In some embodiments, the panel includes a plurality of joists, a corrugated form deck disposed above and attached to the plurality of joists, and a sound dampener disposed between the corrugated form deck and the plurality of joists. In some embodiments, the method includes attaching a pre-assembled panel to a frame of the building and pouring concrete onto the panel so that a radiant heat member is separated from the concrete by a corrugated form deck of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Innovative Building Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arlan Collins, Mark Woerman
  • Patent number: 11027366
    Abstract: A laser system including a rack, a plurality of laser modules mounted in the rack to drive light through an optical fiber exiting the system, and a power distribution module to distribute electricity through circuit branches coupled to the laser modules is generally presented. In some embodiments, the rack includes a horizontal cross-member with a bottom rack flange extending vertically and defining a bottom of an opening in the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: NLIGHT, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Emery, Jeremy Young, Shelly Lin, Ken Almonte, Nathaniel Black
  • Patent number: 11014186
    Abstract: An arc welding method preforms reciprocating wire feed so as to alternately perform forward feed and reverse feed. The arc welding method includes a normal arc welding step, a normal short circuit welding step, and an abnormal arc welding step. In the abnormal arc welding step, a short circuit state occurs at a second time point, which is before a lapse of a second period from a first time point at which an arc state occurs. Further, in the abnormal arc welding step, the reciprocating wire feed continues until a third time point after a lapse of a first period from the second time point. At the third time point, the reciprocating wire feed is stopped and the abnormal arc welding step is completed. From the third time point, the welding wire is decelerated and the reciprocating wire feed is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaito Matsui, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Akira Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10994362
    Abstract: An arc electric welding head comprising a first contact device housing a first duct for feeding a first electrode and providing electrical contact between a first power source and said first electrode, a second contact device housing a second duct for feeding a second electrode and providing electrical contact between a second power source and said second electrode, said first and second contact devices being electrically insulated from each other, said first and second ducts being parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ESAB AB
    Inventor: Hannes Raudsepp
  • Patent number: 10994354
    Abstract: Arc saw blades and systems and methods for segmenting components utilizing improved arc saw blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Arc Saw Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas S. LaGuardia, Richard Simoneau
  • Patent number: 10980367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for brewing hot beverages, and more particularly to an apparatus for automated brewing of coffee or tea. The apparatus for automated brewing of coffee comprises a frame structure defining an interior space, wherein the interior space houses a ground coffee feed system, a carousel assembly, a water system, a waste system and a coffee storage and dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: Roger G. Lawson
  • Patent number: 10932621
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus having a base member and a plurality of side members held together to form a container, a heating means inside the container for generating heat in the container, the container having an opening for placing food to be cooked in the container, and is capable of storing liquid, wherein the heating means is a gas burner and is positioned above a maximum liquid level, and further including a first shield member inside the container, spaced from a side wall of the container and surrounding the burner to restrict flame from the gas burner from contacting the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: WILD EARTH WINES LIMITED
    Inventor: Quintin Quider
  • Patent number: 10893705
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 10894295
    Abstract: A welding power supply having an adjustable cover is disclosed. The welding power supply includes an enclosure housing an engine, a porous radiator thermally coupled to the engine, and a fan configured to propel air through the radiator. A ventilation opening is in fluid communication with the fan and radiator. The fan is configured to move heated air along an air path and out of the ventilation opening. The air may be heated by the welding power supply components (e.g. engine, radiator, charge air cooler, oil cooler, compressor, generator, weld circuitry, and/or other components), for example. The adjustable cover is positioned over the ventilation when in a fully closed and/or partially open/closed position. The adjustable cover may be moved between fully closed, partially open/closed, and fully open positions. The amount of air that is allowed to exit the enclosure, and the amount of air that is recirculated within the enclosure, may be altered by adjusting the position of the adjustable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Dale Taylor, David Radtke
  • Patent number: 10888190
    Abstract: A peeler is formed with a tubular main body having a first open end, an opposing second open end, and a hollow interior extending from the first open end to the second open end. The tubular main body is formed from a first flexible material allowing the tubular main body to deform under pressure by a use. A pick is attached to the first open end and extends away from the second open end, the pick being formed from a second material, the second material being different from the first material and further being relatively more rigid than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Michael Hauser
  • Patent number: 10887950
    Abstract: Provided is a cooking apparatus including: an induction heating coil that generates a magnetic field heating a cooking container; and an image generating unit that radiates light so that an image is generated on a surface of the cooking container, wherein the image generating unit includes: a plurality of light sources that radiate light toward the cooking container; a light source driving circuit that provides driving currents to the plurality of light sources; and a light-emitting controller that controls the light source driving circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Sun Yun, Seung-Hwan Kim, Kwan Joon Kim, Eun Dae Bae, Heung Mun Oh, Ji Hyeoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10875119
    Abstract: A welding electrode may comprise a welding electrode body and a welding electrode cap that is connected or connectable to the welding electrode body for making contact between the welding electrode and a component for producing a welded connection. The problem of achieving an efficient heating of the sandwich sheet to be welded in a compact layout with the fewest possible modifications of the welding electrodes used heretofore is solved in that an electrically conductive resistance element integrated, or which can be integrated, in the welding electrode and which is connected or connectable in an electrically-conductive manner to the welding electrode body and the welding electrode cap is provided for the heating of the component. Furthermore, a method and a device with the welding electrode and a use are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Azeddine Chergui, Jovan Berak
  • Patent number: 10827872
    Abstract: A sous vide device and method of using the same may include a body that is fully submergible in a container of water and may wirelessly communicate with an external device, e.g., to control an external heating element during sous vide cooking. Further, a sous vide device may include a rechargeable battery capable of being wirelessly recharged from a charging dock. In addition, a sous vide device may include a moisture sensor for use in changing the activation state of a heating element and/or a turbidity sensor for use in changing the activation state of a water circulator of the sous vide device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Trice, Robert Digman, Paul R. Staun
  • Patent number: 10820737
    Abstract: The present invention provides a beverage machine that heats up water in the upper water chamber(s). The water has direct contact with an electric heating system and the heated water flows by gravity and being distributed by a pour over system into an underlying filter basket. The hot water chamber comprises a sensor for water temperature. Once the water reaches an optimal temperature, a motor and gear system would drive a valve open and allow the heated water to flow into the underlying filter basket. The present invention allows certain amount of water to be heated up in individual batch, thereby making it easy to manage water temperature in every batch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: EnE Holdings Ltd
    Inventors: Andrew Yuen Chin Chen, Amy Decem Cheng, Raymond Wai Ming Wong, Jeremy Kok Leong Tay
  • Patent number: 10722078
    Abstract: A food processing system has a wheel-shaped assembly having a stationary sub-assembly and a movable sub-assembly. The movable sub-assembly has three or more arms extending away from the stationary sub-assembly; three or more connecting rods; three or more pivoters; three or more rotators; and three or more food processing devices. The three or more food processing devices comprise a plurality of cooking chambers and a plurality of blenders. The three or more arms are rotatable about a first direction. A horizontal diameter of each connecting rod stays in a respective horizontal position parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction during rotation of the respective arm about the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventor: Tony Kahn Vong