Patents Examined by Tiffany T Tran
  • Patent number: 10843292
    Abstract: In an example method, a laser processing head is moved from an entrance region over a workpiece to a starting position above the workpiece. During this time, a distance control system is used to control the distance between the laser processing head and the workpiece based on measurements obtained from one or more distance sensors. Further, the laser processing head is moved from the starting position to a position beyond an edge of the workpiece. During this time, the distance control system is disengaged. When the laser processing head reaches the position beyond an edge of the workpiece, laser emission is initiated, and the laser processing head is moved back towards the starting position. Upon reaching the starting position, the distance control system is reengaged. The laser processing head is subsequently moved along a pre-determined path to cut the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias Hagenlocher
  • Patent number: 10821510
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an associated device, the method including at least the following steps: applying a layer of powder to a component platform in the region of a building and joining area; locally melting and/or sintering the powder layer, wherein, in the region of the building and joining area, at least one high-energy beam is moved in relation to the component platform, selectively impinging the powder layer, at least part of which at least one high-energy beam and the component platform are moved in relation to one another, in the form of a parallel arrangement arranged along a linear feed direction; lowering the component platform by a predetermined layer thickness in a lowering direction; and repeating the above-mentioned steps until the component region is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: MTU Aero Engines AG, EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Inventors: Andreas Jakimov, Georg Schlick, Herbert Hanrieder, Martin Leuterer
  • Patent number: 10786867
    Abstract: A GDL cutting system of a fuel cell includes: a laser-cutting device that forms a gas diffusion layer by radiating a laser on the surface of a GDL fabric panel moving on a conveyer; an adsorbing-conveying device that adsorbs and conveys at least two gas diffusion layers cut by the laser-cutting device; a first vision sensor that senses an upper side of the gas diffusion layers cut by the laser-cutting device; and a second vision sensor that senses a lower side of the gas diffusion layers adsorbed and conveyed by the adsorbing-conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunha Hwang, Sun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10765249
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for steaming and blending food products, also usable for sterilizing baby bottles as needed. The apparatus includes a base including a removable steam chamber and a motor driven drive shaft. A container assembly including a blade assembly can be mounted to the base for steaming the food and for blending the food. The apparatus may further include a steam diverter plate for sterilizing articles such as baby bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Dov Z. Glucksman
  • Patent number: 10721943
    Abstract: A hand-press coffee machine comprising a water tank, a hand pump which is disposed at the upper end of the water tank, and a brewing component which is connected to the lower end of the water tank; a water hole is disposed at the point where the water tank and the brewing component are connected; the hand pump is used to pump the water in the water tank into the brewing component through the water hole; a unidirectional valve, which is disposed in the water hole between the water tank and the brewing component, is set to merely allow the water in the water tank to flow into the brewing component; the present invention can effectively protect the coffee powder from being pre-soaked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Good Cheer LLC
    Inventors: Jiangang Guo, Yongchun Zeng
  • Patent number: 10723558
    Abstract: A conveyor belt system provides a continuous flat support surface for a food item that moves the food item through a food preparation device. The conveyor belt system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced apart rods and a plurality of slats that are removably attached to the conveyor belt with a snap on mechanism. The slats are easily assembled and provide enhanced field service and/or replacement capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Prince Castle LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Malkowski, Richard Bauer
  • Patent number: 10702091
    Abstract: The infusion brewer has a filter path forming a continuous loop around a plurality of rotary shafts, the plurality of rotary shafts being operable to cycle a continuous loop filter along the filter path, the filter path having a steeping area; and an infusion enclosure having a bottom opening positionable into an infusion position against the continuous loop filter at the steeping area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventor: Aleksandar Radosav
  • Patent number: 10688589
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a welding device including a wire feed device and a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The wire feed device may include a motor to rotate a roller to advance a filler wire from a bobbin towards a torch. The processor may execute instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium to determine an applied feed force parameter and a threshold feed force parameter and compare the applied feed force parameter to the threshold feed force parameter to update an error state indicator, such as a user interface, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ESAB AB
    Inventors: Benny Svendsen, Oscar Eriksson
  • Patent number: 10690705
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally describes a system that includes a heater, a power converter including a power switch, and a controller. The power converter is in communication with the heater and is operable to apply an adjustable voltage to the heater. The controller is in communication with the power switch to control the voltage output of the power converter based on at least one of a load current and a detected voltage at the heater. The controller operates the power switch to adjust the voltage output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stanton H. Breitlow, John Lemke, James Hentges, Keith Ness, Eric Ellis, William Bohlinger, Matthew Yender, Dean R. McCluskey
  • Patent number: 10675702
    Abstract: A method of adhesive weld bonding a light metal workpiece and a steel workpiece is disclosed that includes applying a plurality of discrete adhesive ribbons to a faying surface of the light metal workpiece, the faying surface of the steel workpiece, or both faying surfaces, and then assembling the workpieces together to establish one or more adhesive zones between the faying surfaces of the light metal and steel workpieces and a plurality of adhesive free zones amongst the adhesive zone(s). The method further includes forming a resistance spot weld that bonds the the light metal workpiece and the steel workpiece together at a spot weld location within one of the adhesive free zones. The formed spot weld includes a weld joint contained within the light metal workpiece that bonds to the faying interface of the steel workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Blair E. Carlson, David R. Sigler
  • Patent number: 10660161
    Abstract: A transparent pane, having at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating connected to at least two collection electrodes, provided for electrically connecting to a supply voltage to generate a heating current that flows across a heating field formed between the at least two collection electrodes is described. The heating field includes at least one communication window free from the heatable, electrically conductive coating. The transparent pane further includes at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating. The additional electrode is connected to one of the two collection electrodes via a respective current supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Guenther Schall, Valentin Schulz, Bojan Dimitrijevic
  • Patent number: 10646069
    Abstract: The invention relates to an insert (10) for an apparatus (100) for preparing food by circulation of a flow of hot air in a food basket (14) placed inside a food preparation chamber and having a bottom part (108) with a lower opening area (26) for the circulation of the flow of hot air. The insert comprises an upper surface (12) intended to be arranged below the food basket. The upper surface (12) defines an inclined surface (16) having a downward inclination extending outwards from a middle zone towards a perimeter of the insert. The inclined surface (16) is provided such that the inclination extends at least beyond a vertical projection of the lower opening area (26). The insert further comprises spacers (40) provided on a lower side (42) of the insert to create a clearance gap (44) between the lower side (42) and a bottom surface (46) of the food preparation chamber. This invention allows improving food preparation while minimizing the emission of cooking oil fumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Davide Bonaccorso
  • Patent number: 10645765
    Abstract: Cooking device includes heating chamber with door for housing object to be heated, vapor generator for supplying vapor into heating chamber, and water storage tank. Cooking device further includes cooling air passage provided between heating chamber and water storage tank and allowing cooling air to pass therethrough, and air inlet provided to the side of door and introducing cooling air into cooling air passage. This enables cooling, using a smaller and more inexpensive cooling fan. As a result, cooking device is made shorter in overall height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Shibuya, Akira Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10633173
    Abstract: Fitment assembly (10) for a container comprising in its inside volume a coffee ingredient, the fitment assembly (10) comprising: an inlet chamber (120) to accommodate an inflow of fluid for flowing through the coffee ingredient to extract a coffee beverage; a tertiary active chamber (231) on one of the sides of the fitment assembly (10) to where extracted coffee fluid together with the coffee ingredient particles is conveyed and a tertiary passive chamber (232) on the reverse side of the fitment assembly (10) to where the extracted coffee fluid after having been filtered is conveyed; a primary filter element (11) filtering the extracted coffee fluid coming from the tertiary active chamber (231) and flowing into the tertiary passive chamber (232) in such a way that only the fluid can go through and into the tertiary passive chamber (232) while the particles of coffee ingredient are retained in the tertiary active chamber (231); and an outlet duct (12) arranged in such a way that the extracted coffee beverage f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Perentes, Youcef Ait Bouziad, Damien Neurohr
  • Patent number: 10610047
    Abstract: A coffee machine includes a pot liner and a heating mechanism for heating the pot liner. The pot liner has a water inlet and a water outlet. An automatic drain mechanism is provided at the water outlet of the pot liner for opening or blocking the water outlet according to the ambient temperature at the water outlet. The automatic drain mechanism can be used to control outflow of the heated water from the pot liner according to the ambient temperature, so that the structure for exhausting water is simplified and the size of the coffee machine is reduced. Moreover, the fluid flowing out under the pressure generated due to steam will facilitate to brew ground coffee, thereby enhancing the quality of coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Jianming Cai
  • Patent number: 10583524
    Abstract: A laser processing head, by means of which lenses in the beam path of the laser beam may be interchanged for the purposes of changing the beam diameter at the workpiece, wherein the laser processing head may have a structurally simple and compact embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Burger, Dominik Vees
  • Patent number: 10575674
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a home food or beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a mechanical part which is mobile between at least a first and a second position. The machine (1) comprises an actuator comprising a wire (13) made of a shape memory material. This wire (13) has a retracted state and an extended state, and the actuator is configured to move the mechanical part to or maintain the mechanical part in one of said first and second positions by retraction of the wire. Any mobile part of a home food or beverage preparation machine, and more particularly a valve assembly or a mobile plate (22) for clamping an ingredient package may thus be moved instantaneously without noise between its different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Michael Ayoub, Xavier Greppin, Antoine Gardiol, Nicolas Stoudmann, Pierre-Yves Vannay
  • Patent number: 10576565
    Abstract: A method of forming a weld interface between a first workpiece and a second workpiece includes arranging a reactive braze material at a first joining surface of the first workpiece. The reactive material is selected to react upon being heated to a temperature below the solidus temperature of the first and second workpieces to form a liquid-containing reaction product. Furthermore, an assembly is prepared of the first workpiece and the second workpiece with the first joining surface of the first workpiece and a second joining surface of the second workpiece separated by the reactive material. The second workpiece is then heated with a first laser beam following a first path and with a second laser beam following a second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: James G. Schroth, Thomas A. Perry, Hongliang Wang, Chen Zhou
  • Patent number: 10542766
    Abstract: A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products comprises: a container adapted to contain a liquid or semi-liquid base product; a thermal treatment system associated with the container to cool or heat the walls of the container; a stirrer equipped with a plurality of radial vanes and, in use, mounted inside the container to mix the liquid base product inside the container; the machine being characterized in that it further comprises a basket having a plurality of through openings on its walls, defining an internal space for containing flavorings or the like and, in use, mounted inside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: ALI GROUP S.R.L.—CARPIGIANI
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 10512284
    Abstract: An atomizer of an electronic cigarette includes an atomizing assembly, a smoke tube and a cigarette holder. The atomizing assembly includes: a heating module including a ceramic base and a heating wire winding around the ceramic base; and a snap base including an upper snap base and a lower snap base. The heating module is longitudinally provided between the upper snap base and the lower snap base. The upper snap base includes a first air channel in communication with a smoke channel and a liquid channel in communication with a liquid storage cavity. The lower snap base includes a second air channel in communication with the first air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: O-NET AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) LIMITED
    Inventors: Feng Wang, Cheng Wang, Fei Shen