Patents Examined by William A. Rivera
  • Printing apparatus and storage apparatus
    Patent number: 10906764
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is capable of preventing a sheet discharged from a discharge unit from entering a feeding unit while guiding the sheet properly to a storage unit located below the feeding unit. The printing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a sheet discharged from a discharge unit and a guide unit configured to guide the sheet discharged from the discharge unit to the storage unit. The guide unit has a turning unit which prevents the sheet discharged from the discharge unit from entering a feeding unit and which turns when the sheet comes into contact with the turning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa Yoneyama, Yasuyuki Asai, Tetsuo Kikuchi, Itaru Wada, Daiki Anayama
  • Hands free paper towel dispensers for aircraft environments and methods for operating the same
    Patent number: 10898036
    Abstract: Aircraft, aircraft paper towel dispensers, and methods for operating aircraft paper towel dispensers are disclosed. An aircraft paper towel dispenser includes a cabinet housing that defines an inner volume and a housing aperture that is configured to allow a portion of paper towel to be dispensed outside of the cabinet housing. The cabinet housing also includes a vanity cover configured to transition between an open state in which the inner volume is accessible, and a closed state in which the inner volume is not accessible. The aircraft paper towel dispenser comprises each of a paper towel holder within the inner volume and configured to secure a supply of paper towel, and a drive mechanism positioned within the inner volume and configured to cause the portion of the paper towel to be dispensed from the inner volume to a region outside of the cabinet housing via the housing aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Darren Carl McIntosh
  • Automatic lapless butt material splice
    Patent number: 10899568
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for splicing a trailing edge of an outgoing roll with a leading edge of a replacement roll with a lapless butt splice on-the-fly during converting and printing production. A first strip of adhesive tape may be placed partially under the leading edge, such that a portion of the adhesive tape remains exposed beyond the leading edge. The replacement roll may be accelerated to match the speed of the outgoing web's movement, a trailing edge of the outgoing web may be cut free from the outgoing roll, and the trailing edge of the outgoing roll may be positioned over the exposed portion of the adhesive tape. A second strip of adhesive tape may be applied over the leading edge and trailing edge using a splicer roller timed to apply the tape when the edges pass proximate to the splicer roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: New Era Converting Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A Pasquale
  • Cord reel apparatus
    Patent number: 10899576
    Abstract: A cord reel apparatus includes a circular plate configured to rotate in response to pulling out or rewinding of a cord, a guide groove on the circular plate, a sensor member having a first protrusion which is slidable in the guide groove, a top plate facing the circular plate with the sensor member sandwiched therebetween, a second protrusion provided on the sensor member and projecting in a direction toward the circular plate, and a first pressing portion provided on the sensor member and disposed in a direction toward the top plate. When the first protrusion is closest to a bottom surface of the guide groove, the second protrusion is not in contact with the circular plate. When the first protrusion rides on a wall surface of the guide groove, the first pressing portion is in contact with the top plate, so that the second protrusion contacts the circular plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Masaki
  • Body mount and retractor for support of hands free portable power, video enhancement, and data transfer between wireless devices
    Patent number: 10894694
    Abstract: This invention is embodied in a body mount and retractable lanyard that enables its user to pull and retract a device perpendicularly from the face of a spool connected to a user. In this way, the body mount enable its user to access hands-free portable power, video and data transfer for public safety personnel and others operating in extreme and challenging environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: All Clear Fire Systems, LLC
    Inventors: James A. Mabry, Jr., Danny J. Kleitsch
  • Packaged flexible film and flexible film packaging system therefor
    Patent number: 10894682
    Abstract: A packaged flexible film is described. The packaged flexible film includes (i) a cylindrical core having an outer surface; (ii) a supply of flexible film wound about the core with a leading edge adjacent the outer surface and forming a connection ridge along the outer surface; and (iii) a cover strip comprising a compressed compressible cover material covering said connection ridge. Also described are a packaging system for flexible film and a multilayer flexible film packaging tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Eastman Performance Films, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Ian Carver, Michael Hawkins
  • Expandable coil deployment system for drum assembly and method of using same
    Patent number: 10889461
    Abstract: A coil deployment system and one or more methods of manipulating a coil deployment system, is provided. The coil deployment system has a trailer frame of one or more frame components including a pair of support brackets, a first pair of lower support arms, a second pair of lower support arms, a first pair of upper support arms, and a second pair of upper support arms. The trailer frame is adjustable such that the width and height of the trailer can be adjusted to manipulate and accommodate various sizes of coil drums of spoolable pipe deploy, collect, transport or store the spoolable pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Allen Hegler
  • Material handling device
    Patent number: 10889460
    Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a utility reel on a horizontal shaft, said apparatus comprising a first rotational collar and a second rotational collar configured to be attached to the horizontal shaft on either side of the utility spool. The apparatus is held in place by set screws, the set screws typically being such that they cannot be removed without grinding or cutting so as to not vibrate loose while transporting said reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Martin Ferguson
  • Wire back tension device
    Patent number: 10875747
    Abstract: A device for tensioning an elongated hoisting member, comprises: a first friction-generating member rotatably supported around a first support member; a second friction-generating member rotatably supported around a second support member, the first and second friction-generating members being adapted to provide friction to the elongated hoisting member when the friction-generating members are pressed against each other with a portion of the elongated hoisting member therebetween. A brake is provided for braking the rotation of the friction-generating members around the support members. There is also described a system that includes such a device, as well as a method for operating such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Yngvar Borøy, Adrian Mihai Orasanu, Thor Strand
  • Dunnage system and method using a coil accumulator
    Patent number: 10864696
    Abstract: A dunnage production system for producing coiled strips of dunnage includes a supply of strip-like dunnage, a coiler adjacent the supply and rotatable about a coiling axis for coiling a strip of the strip-like dunnage into a coil having a coiled configuration, and a tube aligned with the coiling axis. The tube has an internal diameter sized to receive the coil from the coiler in a discharge direction parallel to the coiling axis. The tube is capable of holding at least one coil in its coiled configuration until it is removed from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Nico Lammers, Erwin Methorst, Reinhard L. M. H. Rothkranz
  • Refill device for a dispensing system
    Patent number: 10863873
    Abstract: A dispensing system has a dispenser for sections of a material web wound onto a roll. A support bar is provided, on each end, a bearing journal protruding out from the roll. At least one of the two bearing journals has a mating surface which is not designed as a rotational surface. The dispenser has a guide for each bearing journal that extends to a dispensing position. A counter surface for the mating surface is provided at the beginning of the guide for each bearing journal that has the mating surface. The insertion of the roller into the dispenser is only possible if the mating surface coincides with the counter surface, which extends to in the dispensing position. The roller is rotatably arranged about the central area of the supporting rod, which does not rotate in the dispensing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Hans Georg Hagleitner
  • Method for coiling a coiled product, control installation, computer software product, and coiling machine
    Patent number: 10858215
    Abstract: A coiled product, a control installation, computer software product, a coiling machine and method for coiling a coiled product, wherein the coiling tension is settable to an envisaged coiling tension, particularly to a constant coiling tension via either a setting unit and/or a change in the respective rotational speed of either a coil body and/or a supply roll, a characterizing aspect being the equalization of the free length of the coiled product, where the free length is the spacing of the first bearing point of the coiled product on the coil body from the second bearing point of the coiled product on a deflection roller such that the free length change is equalized by the setting unit and/or by a variation of the respective rotational speed so that coiling tension of a product coiled onto the coil body can be set in a simple, rapid, and precise manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Karl, Bjoern Seelinger, Sebastian Kerling
  • Toilet paper holster charging station
    Patent number: 10856706
    Abstract: A toilet paper holster charging station. The toilet paper holster charging station includes a housing having a top portion with opposing arms extending from a bottom thereof. A support shaft spans between the opposing arms and is rotatably attached thereto. The support shaft is removably affixed to the opposing arms and can hold a roll of toilet paper thereon. An electrical outlet is disposed in an arm of the housing and includes standard sockets as well as Universal Serial Bus (USB) outlets for plugging in and charging devices. The electrical outlet is configured to be connected to the electrical grid of a house through wired connection running through the walls. A shelving portion is included on the top surface of the housing to allow a user to rest an electrical device thereon while charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventor: Brian Lewis
  • Hose reel
    Patent number: 10858217
    Abstract: A hose reel includes a frame, a reel rotatably arranged within the frame and a rewind mechanism with a spring. A removable lid is attached to the frame and encloses an inside of the hose reel from all directions to prevent a user of the hose reel from accessing the inside of the hose reel. An axle is rotatable in relation to the reel. A first end of the spring is attached to the reel and a second end of the spring is attached to the axle. The axle has an outer end connected to the lid to prevent mutual rotation between the lid and the outer end in a direction which decreases the spring force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Fiskars Finland Oy Ab
    Inventor: Vesa Poutiainen
  • Plastic bag dispenser
    Patent number: 10850880
    Abstract: A plastic bag dispenser is disclosed. The plastic bag dispenser contains an elastic cord which has a first a first end and a second end. There is also a first spindle, which has the ability to connect to the first end of said elastic cord, and a second spindle, which has the ability to connect to the second end of the elastic cord, such that when the first spindle is connected to the first end of said elastic end and the second spindle is connected to the second end of the elastic cord, there exists the ability to hold a roll of plastic bags between the first spindle and the second spindle without the roll of plastic bags unraveling. The adjustable elastic cord secures the plastic bags to the roll on which the plastic bags are wrapped and serve to act as a pressure element to easily tear off a perforated bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HIGHWAVE
    Inventor: Gary Ross
  • Winding core end protector
    Patent number: 10843892
    Abstract: A core end protector comprised of a shock absorber and an annular, rigid attachment section that is attached to each end of a cardboard tissue core is provided. The core end protectors are securely mounted on the ends of the core. The outer diameter of the core end protector matches the outer diameter of the core. The inner diameter matches the inner diameter of the core. The core end protectors are made both with a rigid base section that mates to the core end face and a softer, shock absorbing section that comes in contact with external forces and impact loads. One single material or a plurality of materials may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Van Deurse, Greg Sandford
  • Sheet material transfer system/assembly for a dispenser
    Patent number: 10835086
    Abstract: A sheet material dispenser can include a sheet material transfer assembly operable to automatically transfer feeding or dispensing of sheet material between a plurality of supplies of sheet material. The sheet material transfer assembly can include a frame that is movable between a plurality of positions including a first position that facilitates feeding of the sheet material from a first supply of sheet material, and a second position that facilitates feeding or dispensing of sheet material from a second supply of sheet material. The frame of the sheet material transfer system can shift or move to the second position for dispensing sheet material from the second supply of sheet material when the first supply of sheet material is fully dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Method and apparatus for winding a sheet of homogenized tobacco material into a bobbin
    Patent number: 10834957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for winding a sheet (13) of homogenized tobacco material into a bobbin (12), the method comprising: providing a sheet of homogenized tobacco material having a free end (11); connecting the free end to a center core; rotating the center core so as to wind the sheet of homogenized tobacco material around it forming the bobbin; and applying a force per unit length to the sheet of homogenized tobacco material during winding to pull the same having a magnitude comprised between about 42 N/m and about 93 N/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Yorick Klipfel
  • Apparatus and method for dispensing and tensioning fence wire
    Patent number: 10837196
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing and tensioning fence wire, the apparatus comprising a support frame extending along a longitudinal length between a front and a rear, the frame adapted to be moved along a path proximate to the fence to be formed and a rotational support adapted to rotatably support at least one reel of fence wire thereon, an adjustable tensioning unit adapted to be selectively secured to a fence wire and a drive unit wherein the drive unit is adapted to selectively control the tensioning unit to apply tension to the fence wire. The method comprising rotatably supporting at least one reel of fence wire on a rotational support, securing a first end of the fence wire to one of a plurality of fence posts and moving the frame along a path proximate to the fence to be formed, dispensing the fence wire along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: William Quentin Cowan
  • Sheet supplying apparatus and printing apparatus
    Patent number: 10829329
    Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus, which is capable of winding a sheet tightly, includes a driving unit configured to cause a roll including a wound consecutive sheet to rotate in a first direction for feeding the sheet or a second direction opposite to the first direction, a sensor that detects a leading end portion of the sheet separated from an outer circumferential surface of the roll, and a contact body that presses the outer circumferential surface. Before the sheet is fed, in a state in which the contact body presses the outer circumferential surface, the driving unit causes the roll to continuously rotate in the second direction until a detection cycle of the leading end portion by the sensor is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Suzuki, Masashi Kamada, Masato Eiyama, Yuki Igarashi, Masashi Negishi, Ryoya Shinjo, Ryo Kobayashi