Patents by Inventor Andrew Kirk Dummer
Andrew Kirk Dummer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8827113Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing, a gas source, a drive mechanism and an agitation jet device. The housing defines: a hopper chamber to hold the articles; a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a flow path therebetween; and an agitation outlet. The gas source provides a positive pressure supply gas flow having a first pressure, a first velocity and a first mass flow rate. The drive mechanism conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path. The agitation jet device is interposed and fluidly connected between the gas source and the agitation outlet. The agitation jet device includes a feed opening to receive the supply gas flow and a jet opening to convert the supply gas flow to a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: Richard D. Michelli, Andrew Kirk Dummer
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Patent number: 8777055Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
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Patent number: 8281955Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
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Publication number: 20120061417Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
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Patent number: 8061560Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
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Publication number: 20110068117Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a dispensing channel, a housing and an article supply regulation system. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a dispensing path therebetween. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles. The hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel. The housing includes a floor. The article supply regulation system includes a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing: a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventors: Richard D. Michelli, Andrew Kirk Dummer, Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard
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Publication number: 20110031262Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing and a gas source to provide a positive pressure supply gas flow. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, a drive jet outlet, and an agitation outlet. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path therebetween. The gas source is fluidly connected to each of the drive jet outlet and the agitation outlet to provide: a pressurized drive jet gas flow through the drive jet outlet to convey articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path; and a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Andrew Kirk Dummer, Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Richard D. Michelli, Jeffrey P. Williams, David Alan Calderwood
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Patent number: 7870973Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a dispensing channel, a housing and an article supply regulation system. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a dispensing path therebetween. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles. The hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel. The housing includes a floor. The article supply regulation system includes a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing: a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: PARATA Systems, LLCInventors: Richard D. Michelli, Andrew Kirk Dummer, Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard
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Patent number: 7837061Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing and a gas source to provide a positive pressure supply gas flow. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, a drive jet outlet, and an agitation outlet. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path therebetween. The gas source is fluidly connected to each of the drive jet outlet and the agitation outlet to provide: a pressurized drive jet gas flow through the drive jet outlet to convey articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path; and a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: PARATA Systems, LLCInventors: Andrew Kirk Dummer, Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Richard D. Michelli, Jeffrey P. Williams, David Alan Calderwood
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Publication number: 20090294464Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing, a gas source, a drive mechanism and an agitation jet device. The housing defines: a hopper chamber to hold the articles; a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a flow path therebetween; and an agitation outlet. The gas source provides a positive pressure supply gas flow having a first pressure, a first velocity and a first mass flow rate. The drive mechanism conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path. The agitation jet device is interposed and fluidly connected between the gas source and the agitation outlet. The agitation jet device includes a feed opening to receive the supply gas flow and a jet opening to convert the supply gas flow to a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: RICHARD D. MICHELLI, Andrew Kirk Dummer
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Publication number: 20090173748Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a dispensing channel, a housing and an article supply regulation system. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a dispensing path therebetween. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles. The hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel. The housing includes a floor. The article supply regulation system includes a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing: a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Richard D. Michelli, Andrew Kirk Dummer, Bryan Patrick Farnsworth
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Publication number: 20090140002Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2008Publication date: June 4, 2009Inventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
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Publication number: 20080283549Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing and a gas source to provide a positive pressure supply gas flow. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, a drive jet outlet, and an agitation outlet. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path therebetween. The gas source is fluidly connected to each of the drive jet outlet and the agitation outlet to provide: a pressurized drive jet gas flow through the drive jet outlet to convey articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path; and a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Andrew Kirk Dummer, Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Richard D. Michelli, Jeffrey P. Williams, David Alan Calderwood
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Patent number: 7389199Abstract: An apparatus for determining a volume of a construction material sample is provided. At least one sample-interacting device is configured to interact with the construction material sample so as to determine at least one surface characteristic thereof. A computer device is configured to be capable of receiving the at least one surface characteristic from the at least one sample-interacting device, and to manipulate the at least one surface characteristic so as to form a three-dimensional representation of the construction material sample. The computer device is further configured to determine the volume of the construction material sample from the three-dimensional representation thereof. By determining the mass of the construction material sample, the density of the construction material sample can be provided. An associated method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Troxler Electronics Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Robert Ernest Troxler, James Daniel Pratt, Jr., Andrew Kirk Dummer
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Patent number: 6990848Abstract: A method is provided for nondestructively determining a material property of a porous sample. A first vessel is evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure, while a test pressure, greater than the sub-atmospheric pressure, is established in a second vessel containing the sample. The pressures of the first and second vessels are equalized by opening a valve mechanism therebetween. The resulting pressure change in the second vessel exhibits an initial pressure drop followed by a transition to an equalization pressure. The envelope volume of the sample is determined from a minimum pressure attained by the second vessel upon initial opening of the valve mechanism, wherein the minimum pressure is related to the initial pressure drop. The envelope density of the sample is thus a quotient of the mass and the envelope volume of the sample. The absolute density and relative absorption of the sample may also be determined and an associated system is provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Trxoler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Kirk Dummer, Robert Ernest Troxler, Michael Eric Bienvenu
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Patent number: 6915216Abstract: A system adapted to determine a property of a paving-related material is provided. Such a system comprises a central computing system housing database, such as a geographic information system (GIS). A measuring device for selectively and directly measuring the property of the paving-related material is remotely disposed with respect to the central computing system and operably engaged with a locating device, such as a global positioning system (GPS) device, for determining a location of the measuring device when the property of the paving-related material is selectively measured thereby.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Robert Ernest Troxler, Andrew Kirk Dummer, James Daniel Pratt, Jr., William Finch Troxler, Jr., Michael E. Bienvenu, John Pjura, Robyn Lyn Myers, Dirk Steckman
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Publication number: 20040098217Abstract: A method is provided for nondestructively determining a material property of a porous sample. A first vessel is evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure, while a test pressure, greater than the sub-atmospheric pressure, is established in a second vessel containing the sample. The pressures of the first and second vessels are equalized by opening a valve mechanism therebetween. The resulting pressure change in the second vessel exhibits an initial pressure drop followed by a transition to an equalization pressure. The envelope volume of the sample is determined from a minimum pressure attained by the second vessel upon initial opening of the valve mechanism, wherein the minimum pressure is related to the initial pressure drop. The envelope density of the sample is thus a quotient of the mass and the envelope volume of the sample. The absolute density and relative absorption of the sample may also be determined and an associated system is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Applicant: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Kirk Dummer, Robert Ernest Troxler, Michael Eric Bienvenu
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Publication number: 20040073382Abstract: A system adapted to determine a property of a paving-related material is provided. Such a system comprises a central computing system housing database, such as a geographic information system (GIS). A measuring device for selectively and directly measuring the property of the paving-related material is remotely disposed with respect to the central computing system and operably engaged with a locating device, such as a global positioning system (GPS) device, for determining a location of the measuring device when the property of the paving-related material is selectively measured thereby.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Robert Ernest Troxler, Andrew Kirk Dummer, James Daniel Pratt,, William Finch Troxler,, Michael E. Bienvenu, John Pjura, Robyn Lyn Myers, Dirk Steckman