Patents Examined by Terrell Matthews
  • Patent number: 9694390
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating carbon or resin from slurry. The apparatus comprises a frame, a rotary cage screen assembly, a cage screen support and rotary drive system, a carbon collection assembly and a hopper moveably connected to the rotary cage screen assembly. The apparatus is positional partially within an adsorption tank or other container capable of containing slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sizetec, Inc.
    Inventor: Masataka Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9694367
    Abstract: A method for processing a heavy mineral concentrate obtained from froth treatment tailings to produce a zirconium concentrated product, including subjecting the heavy mineral concentrate to froth flotation, subjecting a flotation product to initial gravity separation, subjecting an initial gravity separation product to primary dry separation, subjecting a primary dry separation product to finishing gravity separation, and subjecting a finishing gravity separation product to finishing dry separation to produce a finishing dry separation product as the zirconium concentrated product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TITANIUM CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Moran, Jacques Doiron
  • Patent number: 9687882
    Abstract: A technology for material separation is provided. The technology enables an output of a first material from a rotary lifter. The technology enables a direction of a fluid stream onto the first material in flight based on the output of the first material such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material. The technology enables a conveyance of the second material away from the rotary lifter. The technology enables a removal of the third material via a vacuum port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: American Biocarbon, LLC
    Inventors: Erwin Bogner, Richard J. Gobel
  • Patent number: 9687881
    Abstract: A technology for material separation is provided. The technology enables an output of a first material from a rotary lifter. The technology enables a direction of a fluid stream onto the first material in flight based on the output of the first material such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material. The technology enables a conveyance of the second material away from the rotary lifter. The technology enables a removal of the third material via a vacuum port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: American Biocarbon, LLC
    Inventors: Erwin Bogner, Richard J. Gobel
  • Patent number: 9687877
    Abstract: A selection machine for separating fruits from foreign bodies has a rigid support frame, a mobile frame connected to the fixed frame and having a longitudinal axis (A-A), a connection between the fixed frame and the mobile frame, actuation means of the mobile frame; the mobile frame has a rectangular section and upper wall and a lower wall with a plurality of holes; the mobile frame oscillating around a horizontal rotation axis (X-X) disposed transversally to the longitudinal axis (A-A); the connection being a horizontal connecting pivoting pin having a longitudinal axis that coincides with the horizontal rotation axis (X-X) of the mobile frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: C.M.A.S.N.C. DI MINNICUCCI TOMMASO GIUSEPPE & C.
    Inventors: Andrea Minnicucci, Giuseppe Minnicucci, Roberto Ripani
  • Patent number: 9682406
    Abstract: A selective sorting method is described to identify and sort material objects of different natures, sizes and shapes having the form of a pile. The method is characterized in that the attribution of the nature of the object to be sorted includes in capturing at least one two-dimensional image wherein the object appears, using at least one sensor for electromagnetic radiation and in diffusing at least one of the two-dimensional images on a display screen that can be observed by an operator, the operator attributing a nature to the object viewed. A device able to implement the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT-VE
    Inventors: Jérémy Doublet, Christophe Gambier, Jean-François Rezeau, Alexander Mallinson
  • Patent number: 9681638
    Abstract: The wheeled litter-sifting cart is a device that is adapted to store containers of cat litter as well as to sift out used cat litter for disposal of waste and potential re-use of cat litter. The wheeled cart is mobilized via a plurality of wheels that are affixed to a cart frame. The cart frame includes a bottom deck, intermediate deck, and a top deck. The bottom deck, the intermediate deck, and the top deck are all parallel with respect to one another, and are equally spaced elevationally, speaking. The top deck includes a first opening adjacent to a second opening. A hinged sifter is attached to the top deck in between the first opening and the second opening. In use, a first bucket is aligned underneath the first opening, a second bucket is aligned underneath the second opening, and soiled cat litter is sifted via the hinged sifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventors: Bryan Harris, Lisa Harris
  • Patent number: 9669428
    Abstract: A product sorting apparatus is operable to sort products by inducing an oscillating or rocking motion to a plurality of sorting trays in a vertically stacked arrangement. A subset of the products in a top-most tray selectively pass to successive sorting trays. Each of the sorting trays is configured to receive and selectively transmit the selected products according to a separator or sorting panel that is disposed between an input and an output of a given tray. Each of the separator panels defines apertures that facilitate sorting of the products according to size and/or shape. The rocking or oscillating motion has an amplitude and a period according to an input from a drive mechanism, which may include a motor and drive link with a controller and/or a power switch. Optionally, a safety cage and one or more cutoff switches are provided for protecting the sorter and personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Max Pau, Matthew Long, R. Lee Rawl
  • Patent number: 9669431
    Abstract: A method of collecting and processing organic waste material is disclosed, comprising, placing organic waste in an identifiable can liner, placing the can liner in a general waste stream, and at a later point in time removing the can liner from the waste stream while maintaining the integrity of the contents therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ORGANIX SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Jim Wollschlager
  • Patent number: 9656302
    Abstract: A method and a device for transporting and examining fast-moving objects to be treated, the objects comprising an outer surface and a top surface, (e.g. preforms, bottles, containers, lids, closures). The device comprises an examining unit with an inspection camera and a rejection unit, the bodies being rejected by expulsion using a contactless exertion of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: FINATEC HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Matthias Hermle, Bernhard Kubalek, Fridolin Maibach
  • Patent number: 9643214
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium for sorting out pieces of rock containing quartz vein includes receiving an electric signal representing an image of a piece of rock to be sorted; determining the number of pixels in the image having a predetermined color value that is indicative of presence of quartz; and in case the number of the pixels having said predetermined color value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the method comprises as step for identifying from the image linear forms between the area of the pixels having said predetermined color value and the area of pixels representing the rest of the piece of rock, and in case linear forms is, the method comprises a step for generating a control signal for controlling a deviator device to perform a sorting action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Heikki Oravainen, Markku Meriläinen, Pekka Lovén
  • Patent number: 9644342
    Abstract: A screening bucket system for screening debris out of otherwise clean materials. The screening bucket system generally includes a bucket adapted to be connected to a loader. The bucket includes a rear wall, a pair of side walls, and a blade across its front end. A floor of the bucket is hingedly connected at a front end to the side walls by a hinge. The rear end of the floor includes a rod mount to which a lift rod powered by a motor is rotatably connected such that, when the lift rod is raised or lowered, the free end of the floor raises and lowers while the hinged end of the floor rotates about the hinge. A screen may be positioned on the floor such that materials on the screen may be sifted of debris by activating the lift rod to rapidly raise and lower the floor and screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: David J. Meyers
  • Patent number: 9636690
    Abstract: A magnetic field system for producing an interruptible geometrically patterned magnetic field at a surface, including a surface member including a surface, a magnetic member situated exterior to the surface member, including a geometrically patterned array of magnets, the magnetic member being reversibly mounted in sufficient proximity to the surface member to produce a corresponding geometrically patterned magnetic field extending through the surface, the geometrically patterned array of magnets including magnets selected form the group consisting of permanent magnets, electromagnets, and a combination thereof, the geometrically patterned magnetic field being interruptible by the removal of the magnetic member to a location sufficiently distant from the surface member to withdraw the geometrically patterned magnetic field from the surface, or by the depowering of the powered electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Douglas S. De Lange
  • Patent number: 9614261
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a process for recycling electrode material from lithium-ion batteries, comprising harvesting a mixture of anode and cathode electrode materials from waste lithium-ion batteries, and separating the anode electrode material from the cathode electrode material by means of dense liquid separation. The mixed anode and cathode material is suspended in a liquid that has a density between those of the anode material and cathode material, such that the anode material rises to the top of the dense liquid and the cathode material sinks to the bottom of the dense liquid. The thus separated materials can easily be collected and further purified and regenerated for reuse in new lithium-ion batteries, providing an efficient and low-cost method for recycling electrode active materials from waste lithium-ion batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Farasis Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Kepler, Floris Tsang, Robbert Vermeulen, Phillip Hailey
  • Patent number: 9597713
    Abstract: A cotton feeding unit has a radial type aspirator; primary cotton filter that enables cotton suction; secondary cotton filter that captivates dust; linear motion chassis of primary and secondary filters that carries cyclones and allows linear motion; primary filter rotary valve that enables cotton to land on transfer conveyor; horizontal cotton transfer conveyor that transfers landed cotton; air box that screens the warehouse with flexible hose mobile crane and connects hose and suction nozzle with air box; cotton fine dust bag filter that captures particles; cotton suction venturi nozzle mobile collection arm that unlooses hardened cotton; secondary filter butterfly valve that discharges contaminated water containing dust from cyclone to filter cabin; secondary filter cake cabin that collects accumulated amount discharged from cyclone; secondary filter atmosphere exit bag filter dust collection cabin which collects particles held by cotton fine dust bag; tremie intake-storage filling rotary flap that enables
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Yi{hacek over (g)}itler Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Engin Kale, Ismail Faruk Kuyumcu
  • Patent number: 9579659
    Abstract: A classifier and a method of separating material using such a classifier are disclosed. The classifier comprises a mixing chamber having a mixing fluidization floor and a concentration chamber having a concentration fluidization floor. The concentration fluidization floor and at least a portion of the concentration chamber is located below the mixing fluidization floor. The method of separating material using such a classifier comprises delivering material to be separated into a mixing chamber of the classifier, fluidizing the material in the mixing chamber; transferring some of the material to a concentration chamber of the classifier in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, fluidizing the material in the concentration chamber, forming a concentrating fluidized bed in the concentration chamber, separating the material with at least the concentrating fluidized bed and drawing heavier portions of the separated material from the concentration chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventors: David Starr, Taavi Orupold
  • Patent number: 9573168
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting objects is described, and which provides high-speed image data acquisition to fuse multiple data streams in real-time, while avoiding destructive interference when individual sensors or detectors are utilized in providing data regarding features of a product to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Key Technology,. Inc
    Inventors: Dirk Adams, Johan Calcoen, Timothy L. Justice, Gerald R. Richert
  • Patent number: 9576415
    Abstract: A device (10) for sorting coins (31) has at least first and second receiving containers (20) for receiving coins (31) and a separating unit (14). Further, a transport unit (18) for transporting coins (31) to the receiving containers (20) is provided and has a first transport section (52) arranged between the separating unit (16) and the first transport container (20). The transport unit (18) also has a second transport section (54) between the first receiving container (20) and the second receiving container (20). A first sensor (62) for detecting coins (31) is arranged in the first transport section (52) and a second sensor (64) for detecting coins (31) is arranged in the second transport section (54). A control unit (24) determines the number of coins (31) fed to the first receiving container (20) dependent on the information obtained from the first sensor (62) and from the second sensor (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Neumann
  • Patent number: 9566614
    Abstract: Provided is a dry separation apparatus including: a main body; a first deck; a plurality of guides; a supply part; an air blow fan; and a vibration part. A dry separation method includes: supplying an object to be separated to a top surface of a first deck provided with a plurality of punches; sending, by an air blow fan, air to the punches (first punches); and horizontally vibrating, by a vibration part, the first deck so as to discharge particles which have different specific gravities of the object to be separated and a moveable force exerted by air passing the first punches through different passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES
    Inventors: Byoung-Gon Kim, Ho-Seok Jeon, Jeong Yun Kim, Soo Bok Jeong, Davaasuren Jambal
  • Patent number: 9566587
    Abstract: One method of treating incinerated waste comprises: size separating at least some of the incinerated waste into a first undersize fraction comprising particles smaller than the first separation size and into a first oversize fraction comprising particles larger than the first separation size; size reducing at least some of the first oversize fraction; size separating at least some of the size-reduced first oversize fraction into a second undersize fraction comprising particles smaller than the second separation size and into a second oversize fraction comprising particles larger than the second separation size; combining at least some of the first undersize fraction and at least some of the second undersize fraction into a fine fraction; and extracting metal from at least some of the fine fraction. Another method of treating incinerated waste comprises extracting metal by froth flotation from at least some of the incinerated waste. Systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BLUE SKY MINES LTD.
    Inventors: Douglas Dale Warkentin, Michael Victor Rowley