Patents Examined by Willie Berry, Jr.
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Patent number: 11148880Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a lock, a tailgate, an ejector, an actuator, and a processor. The body defines a receptacle for storing refuse. The lock is coupled to the body and is configured to releasably secure a movable tailgate. The receptacle contains the ejector. The ejector can transition from a first position that is spaced from the tailgate to a second position proximate the tailgate. The actuator is configured to transition the ejector from the first position to the second position. The processor is configured to selectively unlock the tailgate and transition the ejector from the first position to the second position in response to receiving a single input to thereby eject refuse from the receptacle without receiving multiple inputs.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Oshkosh CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Jerrod Kappers, Vince Schad, Robert S. Messina, Christopher K. Yakes, Joshua D. Rocholl, Vincent Hoover, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Zachary L. Klein, John Beck, Brendan Chan, Skylar A. Wachter, Dale Matsumoto
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Patent number: 11142413Abstract: An autonomous dock station system having an automated material lift truck (AMT), a pallet conveyor, and a facility guidance system can automatically load and/or unload a trailer at a dock station. The autonomous dock station system can coordinate these components according to a workflow procedure. In some embodiments, the workflow procedure can begin with the pallet conveyor supplying a loaded pallet to a specified position. The AMT, initially guided by fixed guidance elements of the facility guidance system, can lift the pallet off the conveyor and transport it to a trailer entrance where the AMT switches from the facility guidance system to a trailer guidance system. The AMT can then carry the pallet to an unloading position, move the pallet to one side of the trailer as needed, unload the pallet and return to the pallet conveyor. The workflow procedure can repeat until the trailer is full.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems ABInventors: Richard K. Hoofard, Daryl Day, L. Blake Whitley
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Patent number: 11136228Abstract: A forklift includes a lift bracket which is supported on a mast so as to be capable of being moved upward or downward along the mast, and a fork member having a fork claw portion on which a pallet is allowed to be placed, and supported on the lift bracket. The lift bracket has a support portion which is on a tip portion of the lift bracket and supports the fork member. When a weight is applied onto the fork claw portion, the fork member is configured to rotate around the support portion which is configured to serve as a pivot, in response to an application force exerted onto the fork claw portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Noriyuki Hasegawa, Kensuke Futahashi
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Patent number: 11139057Abstract: A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Hero Health, Inc.Inventors: Kutadgu Akdogan, Christian Von Heifner, Maya Kelley, Greggory Paul Hagopian, Kalyan C. Vepuri
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Patent number: 11124371Abstract: A hinged and pronged plate apparatus for loading railway gondola cars with bulk material, such as municipal solid waste transported by trucks, in a cost-effective and spatially-convenient manner. The railway loading system can have multiple tiers, including a top tier, one or more middle tiers, and bottom tier, which provide working platforms and loading platforms for the gondola cars and vehicles containing the waste and workers that operate the system. The hinged and pronged plate can have a fin with perpendicular prongs extending from the fin. The hinged and pronged plate can be configured to cover the spaces between and surrounding the gondola cars and allows for easy and safe loading of bulk materials from trucks into gondola cars.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Inventor: Thomas F. Erickson, Jr.
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Patent number: 11117790Abstract: An industrial truck includes a main chassis, a transport platform to transport goods, a lifting device to raise and lower the transport platform, and a pushing device with at least one actuatable pushing arm. The pushing device displaces the goods relative to the transport platform.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: HUBTEX MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Juergen Keller
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Patent number: 11121014Abstract: A dummy wafer storage cassette for storing dummy wafers. The dummy wafer storage cassette may have more than 30 wafer slots for accommodating dummy wafers. The dummy wafer cassette may have substantially the same outer dimensions as a standardized wafer cassette with 25 wafer slots and a pitch of the wafer slots of the dummy wafer storage cassette may be smaller than a pitch between the wafer slots in the standardized wafer cassette.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: ASM IP HOLDING B.V.Inventors: Chris G. M. de Ridder, Theodorus G. M. Oosterlaken, Adriaan Garssen
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Patent number: 11117507Abstract: A multi-configurable load ramp for a vehicle includes an outer ramp member, an inner ramp member pivotably coupled to the outer ramp member and movable between a deployed position extending from the outer ramp member, and a folded position where the inner ramp member is disposed nestingly within outer ramp member, and a vehicle attachment device coupled to one of the inner and outer ramp members. The vehicle attachment device includes a plate member and a hook member extending therefrom, the hook member having an upper jaw and a lower jaw at least partially defining a receiving slot to receive a portion of a tailgate. In the deployed position, one of the inner and outer ramp members is configured to couple to the tailgate via the vehicle attachment device to provide a ramp surface to load and/or unload objects from a cargo area of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Daniel Teodorof, Andrew Partin, Bryan J Macek, Paul A Gardiner, Chad J Vermeulen, Kushal Pradhan, Kyle Neighbors, Jeffery E Long, James B Hunter, James J Metcalf, Charles R Kaiser, Jacob L Carpenter, Jereme A Berube
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Patent number: 11107717Abstract: A cassette transport device is disclosed which includes a smart cart, a base expansion frame mounted on the smart cart and a cassette-loading frame fixed to the base expansion frame. The cassette-loading frame is partitioned into several segments each accommodating a plurality of cassette trays. Each of the cassette trays defines, on its surface, a first trough and a second trough in the first trough. The first trough is configured to retain a cassette of a first size, and the second trough is configured to retain a cassette of a second size. With the first and second troughs, each of the cassette trays is able to retain a cassette of either the first or second size, making the cassette transport device possible to be used in transportation of the both types of cassettes with a high yield. Moreover, the smart cart is capable of automated transportation without human intervention or track construction while enabling savings in transportation cost, time and labor.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: SHANGHAI MICRO ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT (GROUP) CO., LTD.Inventors: Lingyu Li, Qixin Xu
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Patent number: 11097896Abstract: A variety of vehicle-based and warehouse-based solutions are provided to increase the adaptability, utility, and efficiency of materials handling vehicles in the warehouse environment, such as a materials handling vehicle comprising a picking attachment is secured to a fork carriage assembly and comprising an X-Y-Z-? positioner to engage and disengage a target tote such that movement of the picking attachment along a Z axis by the X-Y-Z-? positioner is independent of movement of the fork carriage assembly along the vertical axis Z? by the mast assembly and mast assembly control unit. The fork carriage assembly may comprise a mobile storage cart support platform defined by one or more cart lifting forks, and an anti-rock cart engagement mechanism configured to engage a mobile storage cart supported by the cart lifting forks.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Crown Equipment CorporationInventors: Matthew J. Otto, Gregory S. Garmann, Mark E. Addison
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Patent number: 11091081Abstract: A mat lift is disclosed. In an example, the mat lift may be configured to work with a truck-mounted crane to store and organize a plurality of mat pads. An example of the mat lift includes a channel track that extends rearwardly on a back end of the truck-mounted crane. The example channel track has a downward bend that extends the channel track vertically down a rear surface of the truck-mounted crane. The example channel track also includes a winch or roller that drives a cable or chain in order to move a trolley from a first horizontal end to a second vertical end of the channel track. In an example, the trolley includes a post member configured to receive at least one of the plurality of mat pads thereon.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Inventor: Samuel Romero
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Patent number: 11084670Abstract: Provided is a sorting device, comprising a guide rail and a material vehicle moving on the guide rail. A plurality of sorting ports are disposed on both sides of the guide rail, and at least one electromagnet is disposed at a position of the guide rail corresponding to a sorting port; the material vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a tray, at least one magnet and at least two elastically telescopic pieces; the vehicle frame is used to bear the tray, and the tray is rotatably connected to the vehicle frame; the magnet is disposed on a surface of the tray opposite to the material loading surface, and the magnet is connected to the electromagnet in an attraction way, and the elastically telescopic pieces and the tray, for maintaining the transportation state or resetting the tray after the unloading state.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Beijing Jingdong Qianshi Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Weiquan He
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Patent number: 11087999Abstract: The present invention relates to a buffer chamber unit for wafer processing equipment.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: SNW COMPANY LIMITEDInventor: Taehoon Kim
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Patent number: 11084660Abstract: A bin exchange system is disclosed that includes a plurality of automated carriers, each of which is adapted to be remotely movable on an array of track sections, at least one input station by which bins may be introduced to the array of track sections, at least one processing station in communication with the array of track sections wherein objects may be moved between bins, and at least one output station by which bins may be removed from the array of track sections.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Berkshire Grey, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
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Patent number: 11078017Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes a payload bed and a transfer arm configured to extend along a first axis to transfer a pickface to and from the payload bed, the transfer arm including fingers that are independently movable along a second axis, substantially perpendicular to the first axis for picking and placing the pickface.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Symbotic LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Patent number: 11066240Abstract: An automated pharmacy system includes a storage rack; bins to be stored within the storage rack and to store one or more medication packages, each of the bins having a separate bar code; a kiosk having an interface manually manipulated by a user to receive identifying information of the user; a central computer in data communication with the kiosk; a locker unit having lockers, the lockers having an identification reader to unlock the lockers based on receiving correct identifying information and lockers having a bar code; a robotic arm manipulated by the central computer; a rail positioned on a ground surface; and a bar code reader secured to the robotic arm.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Inventor: Rodney H Maxwell
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Patent number: 11052926Abstract: An overhead transport system includes a first placement part that can have placed thereon an article held by an article holder in a state where the article is placed thereon, and also articles do not interfere with each other when the article holder and a lift driver are projected; a second placement part that can have placed thereon the article held by the article holder in a state where the article holder and the lift driver have been projected by the second projection length by the lateral extender; and a third placement part arranged below the track and can have placed thereon an article held by the article holder, wherein the first and third placement parts are provided at the same height.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.Inventor: Fuyuki Imahori
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Patent number: 11047148Abstract: A storage facility for objects of paying of respects includes a partition wall provided to partition off a support location from a respects-paying location, and a respects-paying window configured to allow a person visiting to pay respects to view an object of paying of respects being at the support location. Each object of paying of respects has at least one viewing surface which is a surface selectable to be viewed through the respects-paying window. A plurality of kinds of viewing surfaces are provided. The respects-paying window is provided with an altering device configured to change the size of a visually unobstructed area depending on the size of the viewing surface, of an object of paying of respects located at the support location, that is selected to be viewed, the visually unobstructed area being an area through which a person visiting to pay respects can view the object.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidenobu Shinnaka, Kazuya Arima
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Patent number: 11014769Abstract: An overhead material handling system is provided. The system comprises a leveler having a cover defining an interior, and a screw having a shaft and a screw portion positioned within the cover interior. The system further comprises a lift structure comprising a plurality of hydraulic stabilizing legs, the lift structure being connected to the leveler wherein the plurality of hydraulic legs extend and retract to raise and lower the lift structure, at least one sensor, and a safety mechanism comprising at least one extension off of an end of the leveler.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: JDV Equipment CorporationInventor: Robert T. Abbott, III
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Patent number: 10994954Abstract: A bulk material shipping container unloader having an expandable supporter, a pallet receiver supported by the extendable supporter, a material director supported by the pallet receiver, and a bulk material container gate mover supported by the pallet receiver.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: SANDBOX ENTERPRISES, LLCInventors: C. John Allegretti, Kevin Sylvester Corrigan, Margarito Guerrero, Felix Guerrero