Patents by Inventor Demetris P. Young
Demetris P. Young 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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Publication number: 20100307108Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container includes a base and a plurality of blades, each of the blades including a sharp edge and being mounted to the base such that the sharp edge is exposed. The blades are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the sharp edges generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the sharp edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container. In this configuration, the apparatus can firmly hold the cap as the cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) is rotated to secure the cap onto the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Inventors: John Richard Sink, Demetris P. Young, James Robert Rivenbark, JR., Mark Alan Uebel, Jody DuMond
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Patent number: 7770358Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container includes a base and a plurality of blades, each of the blades including a sharp edge and being mounted to the base such that the sharp edge is exposed. The blades are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the sharp edges generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the sharp edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container. In this configuration, the apparatus can firmly hold the cap as the cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) is rotated to secure the cap onto the container.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: John Richard Sink, Demetris P. Young, James Robert Rivenbark, Jr., Mark Alan Uebel, Jody DuMond
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Patent number: 7735301Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: John Richard Sink, Richard D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, Jr., Demetris P. Young
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Publication number: 20100131097Abstract: A system for verification of dispensed pharmaceuticals includes: a housing; a bar code scanning station mounted on the housing; a vision station mounted on the housing; a spectroscopy station mounted on the housing; an offloading station mounted on the housing; one or more conveyors mounted on the housing to convey pharmaceutical vials between the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations, and a controller associated with the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations and the conveyors to control their operations. A system of this configuration can use both vision and spectroscopy to verify the identity of the pharmaceutical in the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventors: Demetris P. Young, Richard D. Michelli
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Publication number: 20100128165Abstract: A vision system useful in acquiring images includes: a light dome having a window and a perimeter; an annular light curtain positioned within and radially inwardly from the perimeter of the light dome such that an annular gap is formed between the light dome and the light curtain; and a light ring positioned to illuminate the gap between the light dome and the light curtain. The light curtain and window are sized and positioned such that no direct light from the light ring reaches the window. The system further comprises a camera having a lens facing the window to acquire images of an object on a side of the window opposite the camera. The images acquired by the camera can then be compared to stored images to determine whether the identity of the objects (which may be pharmaceutical tablets) is as expected.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventors: David Newcomb, Demetris P. Young
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Patent number: 7596932Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: John Richard Sink, Richard D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, Jr., Demetris P. Young
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Patent number: 7581373Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: John Richard Sink, Richard D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, Jr., Demetris P. Young
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Patent number: 7565785Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: John Richard Sink, Richard D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, Jr., Demetris P. Young
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Publication number: 20090179041Abstract: A device for singulating open-ended objects includes: a housing configured to retain a plurality of open-ended objects, the housing having an open lower end; an outer ring positioned below the housing; a drum positioned within the outer ring to form a drum assembly, the drum including a hub having a substantially circular wall and a plurality of wings that extend radially outwardly from the wall to contact the outer ring, the hub, wings and outer ring forming a plurality of gaps; a mounting structure with an exit aperture fixed relative to the housing; and a rotary drive unit mounted to the drum that rotates the drum about an axis of rotation. The presence of the wings can enable the device to singulated caps more consistently.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2008Publication date: July 16, 2009Inventors: Demetris P. Young, Jody DuMond, George Raymond Abrams, Matthew P. Daniels
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Publication number: 20090178370Abstract: A method of verifying the seating and securing of a closure on a container includes the steps of: (a) positioning a container on a stage of an automated capping station; (b) bringing a closure into contact with the container; (c) detecting the nature of a physical relationship between the container and the closure; (d) responsive to step(c), relatively moving the closure and the container if step (c) indicates seating of the closure on the container is proper; and (e) detecting the nature of a physical relationship between the closure and the container to determine whether the closure is properly secured.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Inventors: Mark Alan Uebel, James Robert Rivenbark, JR., Jasper Pollard, John Richard Sink, Demetris P. Young, Tobias Heineck
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Publication number: 20090025346Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: John Richard Sink, Richard D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, JR., Demetris P. Young
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Publication number: 20090028685Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: John Richard Sink, Richard D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, JR., Demetris P. Young
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Publication number: 20090028684Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: John Richard Sink, Richard D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, JR., Demetris P. Young
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Publication number: 20080173663Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing disk-shaped objects (such as caps for pharmaceutical vials) of two different sizes comprises: first and second dispensers, the first dispenser containing objects of a first size, and the second dispenser containing objects of a second size, each of the dispensers configured to dispense the objects one at a time through an outlet in a predetermined orientation; a first outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the first dispenser; a second outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the second dispenser; and a common chute fed by the first and second outlet channels. In this configuration, the apparatus can provide objects of two different sizes to a common location (such as a closure securing station).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Joseph C. Moran, Demetris P. Young, George Raymond Abrams, Jeffrey P. Williams
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Publication number: 20080172987Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container includes a base and a plurality of blades, each of the blades including a sharp edge and being mounted to the base such that the sharp edge is exposed. The blades are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the sharp edges generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the sharp edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container. In this configuration, the apparatus can firmly hold the cap as the cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) is rotated to secure the cap onto the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: John Richard Sink, Demetris P. Young, James Robert Rivenbark, Mark Alan Uebel, Jody DuMond
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Publication number: 20080168751Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventors: John Richard Sink, Rich D. Michelli, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, Demetris P. Young
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Publication number: 20080169302Abstract: A device for singulating open-ended caps includes: a housing configured to retain a plurality of open-ended caps, the housing having an open lower end; an outer ring positioned below the housing; a drum fixed to and positioned within the outer ring to form a drum assembly, the drum including a hub having a substantially circular wall and a platform that extends radially outwardly from the wall to contact the outer ring, the hub and outer ring forming a circular gap therebetween, the platform being positioned below much of the gap and including a discontinuity; a mounting stricture with an exit aperture fixed relative to the housing; and a rotary drive unit mounted to the drum that rotates the drum assembly about an axis of rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventors: Demetris P. Young, George Raymond Abrams, Joseph C. Moran, Jeffrey P. Williams
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Publication number: 20080110921Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects such as pharmaceutical vials includes: a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; and a drive unit. The endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto. As the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels on a pick-up path, at least a portion of which is within the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: May 15, 2008Inventors: Jody DuMond, Charles H. Guthrie, Joseph C. Moran, Demetris P. Young, George Raymond Abrams
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Patent number: 7344049Abstract: An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals, particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Parata Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Matthew P. Daniels, Jeffrey P. Williams, Richard D. Michelli, Jasper Pollard, Demetris P. Young, Joseph C. Moran, Jr., George Raymond Abrams, Jr., David Alan Calderwood, Pete Klein
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Patent number: D506124Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2004Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Off-Axis Designs, Inc.Inventors: David L. Strickland, Craig S. Hall, Demetris P. Young