Patents by Inventor Gabriel A. DiFurio
Gabriel A. DiFurio 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: 11911799Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyze a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICEInventors: George Coupar, Jeffrey A. Fox, James Whipple, Gabriel Difurio
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Publication number: 20230211381Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyze a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: George COUPAR, Jeffrey A. FOX, James WHIPPLE, Gabriel DIFURIO
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Patent number: 11602773Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyzes a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICEInventors: George Coupar, Jeffrey Adin Fox, James Whipple, Gabriel Difurio
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Patent number: 10676009Abstract: A transportable system for dispensing and boxing items is mounted to and enclosed by a truck. The system comprises at least two dispensing carts. Each cart includes a body, a set of wheels disposed on a bottom surface of the body, a set of bearings disposed on the top surface of the body, and an outlet defined by the body. At least one of the at least two dispensing carts is adapted to store a first set of items vertically and dispense the first set of items using an unpowered escapement and at least another one of the dispensing carts is adapted to store items horizontally. The system further comprises a box dispenser configured to dispense boxes and a conveyor system disposed beneath the outlets of the at least two dispensing carts. The conveyor system defines a continuous path for boxes from the box dispenser to an end location.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: OTG Experience, LLCInventors: Eric J. Blatstein, Ronald M. Falocco, Thomas A. Hillerich, Jr., Gabriel A. Difurio
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Publication number: 20200094288Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyzes a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: George COUPAR, Jeffrey Adin FOX, James WHIPPLE, Gabriel DIFURIO
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Publication number: 20180222374Abstract: A transportable system for dispensing and boxing items is mounted to and enclosed by a truck. The system comprises at least two dispensing carts. Each cart includes a body, a set of wheels disposed on a bottom surface of the body, a set of bearings disposed on the top surface of the body, and an outlet defined by the body. At least one of the at least two dispensing carts is adapted to store a first set of items vertically and dispense the first set of items using an unpowered escapement and at least another one of the dispensing carts is adapted to store items horizontally. The system further comprises a box dispenser configured to dispense boxes and a conveyor system disposed beneath the outlets of the at least two dispensing carts. The conveyor system defines a continuous path for boxes from the box dispenser to an end location.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Eric J. Blatstein, Ronald M. Falocco, Thomas A. Hillerich, JR., Gabriel A. Difurio
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Patent number: 9963061Abstract: A transportable system for dispensing and boxing items is mounted to and enclosed by a truck. The system comprises at least two dispensing carts. Each cart includes a body, a set of wheels disposed on a bottom surface of the body, a set of bearings disposed on the top surface of the body, and an outlet defined by the body. At least one of the at least two dispensing carts is adapted to store a first set of items vertically and dispense the first set of items using an unpowered escapement and at least another one of the dispensing carts is adapted to store items horizontally. The system further comprises a box dispenser configured to dispense boxes and a conveyor system disposed beneath the outlets of the at least two dispensing carts. The conveyor system defines a continuous path for boxes from the box dispenser to an end location.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: OTG Experience, LLCInventors: Eric J. Blatstein, Ronald M. Falocco, Thomas A. Hillerich, Jr., Gabriel A. Difurio
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Publication number: 20180057268Abstract: A transportable system for packaging items in a container is mounted to and enclosed by a truck. The system includes an item tote having a base and at least one sidewall extending from the base. The system also includes a conveyor configured to transport the item tote within the truck. The conveyor has an actuatable portion that is configured to tilt the item tote. The system also has dispensing carts located above the conveyor and removable from the truck for loading items into the dispensing carts while the dispensing carts are outside of the truck. The system also has a container chute. In operation, items are dispensed from the dispensing carts into the item tote and transported by the conveyor to a container disposed in the container chute.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Eric J. Blatstein, Ronald M. Falocco, Thomas A. Hillerich, JR., Gabriel A. Difurio
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Publication number: 20160031356Abstract: A transportable system for dispensing and boxing items is mounted to and enclosed by a truck. The system comprises at least two dispensing carts. Each cart includes a body, a set of wheels disposed on a bottom surface of the body, a set of bearings disposed on the top surface of the body, and an outlet defined by the body. At least one of the at least two dispensing carts is adapted to store a first set of items vertically and dispense the first set of items using an unpowered escapement and at least another one of the dispensing carts is adapted to store items horizontally. The system further comprises a box dispenser configured to dispense boxes and a conveyor system disposed beneath the outlets of the at least two dispensing carts. The conveyor system defines a continuous path for boxes from the box dispenser to an end location.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Eric J. Blatstein, Ronald M. Falocco, Thomas A. Hillerich, JR., Gabriel A. Difurio
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Patent number: 9114748Abstract: A transportable system for dispensing and boxing items is mounted to and enclosed by a truck. The system comprises at least two dispensing carts. Each cart includes a body, a set of wheels disposed on a bottom surface of the body, a set of bearings disposed on the top surface of the body, and an outlet defined by the body. At least one of the at least two dispensing carts is adapted to store a first set of items vertically and dispense the first set of items using an unpowered escapement and at least another one of the dispensing carts is adapted to store items horizontally. The system further comprises a box dispenser configured to dispense boxes and a conveyor system disposed beneath the outlets of the at least two dispensing carts. The conveyor system defines a continuous path for boxes from the box dispenser to an end location.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: OTG Experience, LLCInventors: Eric J. Blatstein, Ronald M. Falocco, Thomas A. Hillerich, Jr., Gabriel A. Difurio
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Patent number: 7405073Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for collecting air samples and identifying biological agents in the air sample. The apparatus is capable of detecting transient events such as bacillus anthracis in a piece of mail being processed on high-speed mail processing equipment.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: David J. Tilles, Gabriel A. DiFurio, John C. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20040063198Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for collecting air samples and identifying biological agents in the air sample. The apparatus is capable of detecting transient events such as bacillus anthracis in a piece of mail being processed on high-speed mail processing equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: David J. Tilles, Gabriel A. DiFurio, John C. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20040063197Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for automatically collecting air samples and identifying biological agents in the air sample. A fully automated system is provided that is capable of detecting transient events such as bacillus anthracis in a piece of mail being processed on high-speed mail processing equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: David J. Tilles, Gabriel A. DiFurio, John C. Schmidt