Patents by Inventor Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr.
Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr. 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).
-
Patent number: 8833604Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Dennis Vaders, John Richard Sink, Jody DuMond, Daniel Gardiner, Jennifer Ann Mauger
-
Patent number: 8813997Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Parata Systems, LLCInventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Richard D. Michelli, David Newcomb
-
Publication number: 20130248550Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: PARATA Systems, LLCInventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, JR., Richard D. Michelli, David Newcomb
-
Publication number: 20130248549Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: PARATA Systems, LLCInventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, JR., Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Dennis Vaders, John Richard Sink, Jody DuMond, Jennifer Ann Mauger
-
Patent number: 8464901Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: PARATA Systems, LLCInventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Dennis Vaders, John Richard Sink, Jody DuMond, Daniel Gardiner
-
Patent number: 8467899Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2011Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: PARATA Systems, LLCInventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Richard D. Michelli, David Newcomb
-
Publication number: 20120059512Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, JR., Richard D. Michelli, David Newcomb
-
Publication number: 20110006073Abstract: A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, JR., Richard D. Michelli, David Newcomb
-
Patent number: 7832591Abstract: A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: PARATA Systems, LLCInventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Richard D. Michelli, David Newcomb
-
Publication number: 20090272758Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2009Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, JR., Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Dennis Vaders, John Richard Sink, Jody DuMond
-
Publication number: 20080283543Abstract: A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, JR., Richard D. Michelli, David Newcomb
-
Publication number: 20080245810Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a flow generator and a sensor. The housing defines a dispensing passage. The flow generator is operable to generate a first flow of gas to force the articles along a first path through the dispensing passage. The sensor is positioned to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage. A port is defined in the housing adjacent the sensor and configured to direct a second flow of gas along a second path to agitate dust adjacent the sensor and thereby remove dust from the sensor and/or prevent dust from depositing on the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Inventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Richard D. Michelli, Jennifer Ann Mauger