Patents Examined by William R Harp
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Patent number: 12378081Abstract: An apparatus for moving and sorting articles between a plurality of destination stations including at least one hooking member, configured to accommodate hanging, or hooking by a hanger, the articles to be sorted, and on which there are defined a plurality of hooking sectors which follow each other in succession on the hooking member, wherein each hooking sector is associated to a specific destination station to which the articles hanging in the hooking sector are sorted. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of markers, each associated with a respective hooking sector to visually communicate to an operator the destination station associated with that hooking sector and a sorting device to sort the articles towards their specific destination station.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: IMMOBILIARE METALPROGETTI S.R.L.Inventor: Enrico Maria Santicchi
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Patent number: 12365552Abstract: In some examples, a landing device is configured to be disposed within a container receptacle of a pneumatic transport system, the landing device comprising: a landing platform defining a landing surface for a container of the pneumatic transport system, the landing platform comprising: a first material configured to at least partially deform in response to the container impacting the landing surface; and a second material disposed over the first material, the second material configured to facilitate removal of the container from the container receptacle; and a base mechanically connected to a second surface of the landing platform, the base configured to secure the landing device to the container receptacle, wherein the landing device is configured to be inserted into the container receptacle without removing one or more components of the container receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2024Date of Patent: July 22, 2025Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.Inventor: Sean Pifferi
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Patent number: 12330877Abstract: A curved belt conveyor includes a conveyor belt with a hooking element associated with an outer periphery of the conveyor belt and multiple pairs of rollers guiding the hooking element. A plurality of supporting elements is placed at the outer periphery, each for supporting at least one pair of rollers. A holding space for the hooking element is defined among each pair of rollers and a corresponding supporting element. A main roller of one of the pairs of rollers is movable along a trajectory extending along a longitudinal development of a corresponding main roller shaft between a releasing position, wherein the rollers are spaced to define an intermediate space therebetween to allow the passage of the hooking element, and a retaining position, wherein the rollers are close to each other to prevent passage of the hooking element from the corresponding holding space through the corresponding intermediate space.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2023Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: MECHANICA SISTEMI S.R.L.Inventor: Giorgio Cristoforetti
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Patent number: 12334377Abstract: A micro-assembly system includes a reservoir that stores a supply of chiplets suspended in a suspension fluid. Each of the chiplets has a bottom major surface that defines a right side down orientation. The system includes a delivery surface or belt that delivers the chiplets from the reservoir to an assembly surface. The system includes a micro assembler that may arrange the first subset of the chiplets in a pattern on the assembly surface. The micro assembler moves the first subset of chiplets towards a subsequent assembly stage. The micro assembler has an array of field generators fixed relative to the assembly surface that move the first subset of the chiplets along the assembly surface in response to signals applied to each of the field generators.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2023Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: JengPing Lu, David K. Biegelsen, Sourobh Raychaudhuri, Bradley Rupp, Eugene M. Chow
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Patent number: 12330884Abstract: A method of inverting workpieces in a mass production process includes: advancing an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of a carrier to synchronize arrival of the carrier at a stop position with arrival of the end effector at an unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with a workpiece held by the carrier for engaging the workpiece; while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector away from the carrier to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector back toward the carrier to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and rotating the end effector relative to the carrier to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing of the end effector for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2024Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: ATS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Wayne Nicholson, Philip David Munroe, James Mark McLean, Robert James MacGregor, David Andrew Tait, Gustavo Barea, Roger Craig Hogan
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Patent number: 12334376Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods relating to a transfer chamber for an electronic device processing system. The transfer chamber can include a first magnetic levitation track having a face-up orientation and a second magnetic levitation track spaced from the first magnetic levitation track and having a face-down orientation. The system can include substrate carriers that move along the first and second magnetic levitation tracks where each substrate carrier includes a magnet on a bottom portion to interact with a first magnetic field and a second magnet on a top portion to interact with a second magnetic field. The system also can include at least one lift pin assembly to move the substrate carriers in a vertical direction between the first and second magnetic levitation tracks.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2023Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Alex Berger, Jeffrey Hudgens, Eric Englhardt
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Patent number: 12330890Abstract: A storage module is provided for an organic material handling system. The storage module has a levelling component for levelling out the organic material stored therein, and a removal component for discharging the organic material. A modular system and method is described for improving the receiving, processing, storing, and transloading of bulk materials such as organic waste. A system includes at least a receiving module to receive material, a storage module, a discharge module, and a control system. Systems can be adapted with additional modules, such as processing modules and transfer modules, depending on the site and materials to be handled. A control system interfaces with the modular components and local operators, and provides remote reporting and monitoring.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: TY-CROP MANUFACTURING LTD.Inventors: Gary Wayne Teichrob, Kevin Brent Thiessen, James Ryan Brezden, Eric Milton Clegg, Ian Breeweg, Dennis Keith Ho
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Patent number: 12317771Abstract: An agitation system includes a plurality of modular agitators, and each modular agitator of the plurality of modular agitators includes an agitator configured to couple to a respective modular meter of a plurality of modular meters. Each modular agitator of the plurality of modular agitators also includes an agitator drive assembly configured to drive the agitator. The agitation system also includes a controller configured to receive meter speed data from the plurality of modular meters. The controller is configured to determine an operation for the agitator of each of the plurality of modular agitators and independently control the agitator drive assembly of each of the plurality of modular agitators.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: June 3, 2025Inventor: Dennis George Thompson
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Patent number: 12312180Abstract: System and method are provided where parcels or packages are associated or grouped, into logical group or logical containerization of parcels or packages, without need for physical container, such that parcels or packages can be tracked as a group, for example with a unique group ID. Logical group may be tracked within specified logical zone on conveyor, transported, sorted and/or otherwise processed as unique logical group without need to be contained in physical container. System and method for automated sortation can accumulate set number or set volume of packages, and then process the accumulated set number or volume of packages, including automatically closing a container filled with the packages.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2023Date of Patent: May 27, 2025Assignee: AEGIS SORTATION, LLCInventors: Anthony J. Young, Jeffrey Paul Henley, Kevin Raney, Robert Browder, Marvin Gregory Whitlock, Scott Crance, Ken Ice, Michael Karaglanis, Brian Yount, Barry Sweatt, Thomas M. Phillips, Logan Young
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Patent number: 12291400Abstract: The anti-splatter device for use with a concrete truck chute is a protective structure. The anti-splatter device for use with a concrete truck chute incorporates a concrete comb, a mounting bracket, and a concrete chute. The concrete comb attaches to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket secures the concrete comb to the concrete chute. The anti-splatter device for use with a concrete truck chute forms a protected space at the location where the concrete chute is delivering concrete. The concrete comb combs the concrete as the concrete is poured such that the concrete comb prevents the concrete from splashing on objects that are not designated to receive concrete.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2023Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Inventor: Joao Freitas
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Patent number: 12286305Abstract: A vertical transmission equipment includes a base which includes a mount surface, a carrier movably disposed on the base and including a supporting surface, and a positioning assembly disposed on the base and to selectively position the carrier, and the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the mount surface of the base.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2023Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: WISTRON CORP.Inventors: Chen-An Sung, Chi-Neng Weng, Chuan-Sheng Li
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Patent number: 12252354Abstract: A method for removing a piece good from a conveying means of a sorting system, includes the steps generating image data by means of a camera arranged on a conveyor line; by means of a controller, detecting a piece good not placed completely in the cell area on the conveying means on the basis of the image data generated; generating a blowoff command for a blowoff device arranged on the conveyor line, wherein the blowoff command is generated while considering a time of the generation of the image data, a conveying speed of the conveying means, and an arrangement of the camera, the conveyor line and the blowoff device relative to one another; and by means of the blowoff device, blowing off the piece good not placed completely in the cell area on the conveying means on the basis of the blowoff command.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Nureddin Kerim Kocak, Fatih Bayraktar
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Patent number: 12246487Abstract: Improved carrier plates and methods of use thereof are provided to secure and transport individual layers of a multilayer structure during manufacture of the multilayer structure. In one implementation a carrier plate is provided including a lower portion and a raised portion to support a flexible substrate holding an individual layer laid on an upper surface of the raised portion. Clamping mechanisms, such as rollers, are formed on extended regions adjacent to side walls of the raised portion. The clamping mechanisms are configured to move from open positions, where the clamping mechanisms are spaced apart from the sidewalls of the raised portion, to closed positions, where the clamping mechanisms secure opposite edge portions of the flexible substrate between the clamping mechanisms and the first and sidewalls of the raised portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2022Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Sakuu CorporationInventors: Morteza Vatani, Seyed Mohammad Sajadi, Timothy Byman, Tom Hays, Peter Bruss, Don Ambli, Justin Carroll, Lawrence Nguyen
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Patent number: 12246923Abstract: A vertical transmission equipment includes a base having a mount surface, a rail structure disposed on the mount surface, and a carrier movably disposed on the rail structure, the carrier includes a supporting surface, and the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the mount surface of the base.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: WISTRON CORP.Inventors: Chi-Neng Weng, Chen-An Sung, Chuan-Sheng Li
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Patent number: 12240708Abstract: A transport unit for moving articles along a conveyor from a first station to a second station is presented. The unit includes a first conveyor segment having entry lanes separated from each other, a second conveyor segment downstream of the first conveyor segment to receive the articles from the first segment and having exit lanes separated from each other, in a number equal to the entry lanes, and a switching device, interposed between the first conveyor segment and the second conveyor segment. The switching device is movable between a first operating configuration, where each entry lane is in communication with a respective exit lane, and at least one second operating configuration, where at least one entry lane is selectively put in communication with an exit lane different from the exit lane with which the at least one entry lane communicates in the first operating configuration.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: G.D S.P.A.Inventors: Luca Cavazza, Giacomo Noferini, Antonio Vitali
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Patent number: 12238867Abstract: A temporary storage and reflow frame substrate system includes a substrate frame, a substrate loading and unloading station, a first conveying unit, and a second conveying unit. The substrate frame is suitable for loading the substrate. The substrate loading and unloading station includes a robotic arm, a feeding and discharging unit and a returning unit, the substrate frame is suitable for connecting to the feeding and discharging unit and the returning unit, the robotic arm is suitable to place the substrate into or remove the substrate from the substrate frame. The first conveying unit is connected to the feeding and discharging unit and is suitable for conveying the substrate frame. The second conveying unit is connected between the first conveying unit and the returning unit, in order to return the substrate frame to the returning unit, thereby loading and unloading the substrate at the substrate loading and unloading station.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: ECLAT FOREVER MACHINERY CO., LTD.Inventor: Kun-Lin Chou
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Patent number: 12234096Abstract: The disclosure relates to a chute liner for mounting on a shelf of a material transfer chute. The shelf has at least one locking formation aperture formed therein. The chute liner has a base for mounting on the shelf. The base has an operatively upper surface that comes into contact with material passing through the chute and an opposed operatively lower surface. The base has at least one mounting formation that depends from the operatively lower surface of the base that defines a passage which in use is passed through the locking formation aperture in the shelf. The chute liner also has a locking member passed through the passage until it operatively engages the mounting formation to lock the base to the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2021Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: METSO OUTOTEC FINLAND OYInventors: Martin James Barnes, Liam Michael Elliott Fry, Heath Sewell
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Patent number: 12227372Abstract: A system includes a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe. The pump includes an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight. The downstream portion includes a tailpiece. An outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight, a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing, a thickness of the downstream helical flight is less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2022Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: SOLARIS OILFIELD SITE SERVICES OPERATING LLCInventors: Bryan Scott Lambert, Whitney Jordan Salinas, William Vaughn Managan, II
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Patent number: 12227362Abstract: This invention provides framework for supporting a plurality of conveyor idlers, mounted on central risers and end risers, and a method for constructing the same. A center section comprises, an upper component having a downwardly oriented channel with a sidewalls. It includes a first pair of central riser tabs folded upwardly from the top surface. The center section also comprises a lower component having an upwardly oriented channel with sidewalls. It includes a second pair of central riser tabs folded upwardly from the top surface. The upper component is sized and arranged to nest within the lower component and the first pair of central riser tabs overlap on the second pair of central riser tabs. A pair of end risers are mounted at each opposing ends of the center section, formed from sheet metal, and affixed to the opposing ends of the center section.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2022Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: NHI Mechanical Motion, LLCInventors: Kevin J. Guay, Alexander J. Moskalenko, Zachary P. Kerin
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Patent number: 12226847Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a welding tip of a welder and an apparatus for replacing the same include a fixed bracket secured to a support. The apparatus includes an actuator coupled to the fixed bracket and a first moving member moved by the actuator. A second moving member is coupled to the first moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A third moving member is hingedly coupled to the second moving member. A first welding tip removal member is coupled to the third moving member to separate a welding tip coupled to a shank. A fourth moving member is disposed opposite to the first moving member. A fifth moving member is coupled to the fourth moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A sixth moving member is coupled to the fifth moving member. A second welding tip removal member is coupled to the sixth moving member.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Inventor: Kwang-Sul Choi