Patents by Inventor Mark Ford
Mark Ford 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: 20240131559Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2024Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
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Patent number: 11897001Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Ackley Machine CorporationInventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
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Publication number: 20220062538Abstract: There is provided a guard for an intravenous adaptor. The guard comprises a polymer sheet formed of a polymer film, the polymer sheet having left, right and middle portions; tear lines within the polymer sheet, located on either side of the central extent of the middle portion; a pull strip extending lengthwise, generally parallel to the central extent and positioned between the tear lines; and an adhesive applied to a periphery of the polymer sheet and over the ends of the pull strip, the tear lines penetrating through the adhesive. The left and right portions of the polymer sheet are arranged to be folded onto each other to form a folded polymer sheet adhered by the adhesive to define a pocket, which is openable by tearing the folded polymer sheet and adhesive along the tear lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Covalon Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Sharon Tomlinson, Mark Ford, Karl Frosh, Gerry Arambula
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Publication number: 20210114063Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
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Patent number: 10919076Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Ackley Machine CorporationInventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
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Publication number: 20200101498Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
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Patent number: 10518294Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: ACKLEY MACHINE CORPORATIONInventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
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Publication number: 20190126324Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
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Patent number: 10201837Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Ackley Machine CorporationInventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
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Publication number: 20180121966Abstract: An online system allows online system users to create advertising accounts that are each associated with a user profile of a user and an amount of credit to purchase advertising services provided by the online system. To allocate more advertising accounts and/or credit to users who are unlikely to default on their payments while limiting the same for users who are likely to do so, the online system determines a trusted connection score for a user requesting to create an advertising account and/or to be allocated an amount of credit. The trusted connection score indicates a measure of trustworthiness of the user and is determined based on the user's connectivity to a network of trusted users, in which each user of the trusted network is associated with at least a threshold measure of trustworthiness. Based on the score, the online system may determine whether to grant or deny the request.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Nathan Gaston Schmidt, Mark Ford Westling, Aparna Nemana
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Publication number: 20180109537Abstract: An online system assigns a level of trust between a requesting entity and a target entity based on connections between users of the online system associated with the requesting entity and users of the online system associated with the target entity in response to receiving a request from the requesting entity to perform an action that is directed towards the target entity. If the assigned level of trust exceeds a threshold level of trust, the online system permits the requesting entity to perform the action; otherwise, the online system denies the request. The level of trust between the entities may be used by the online system to determine whether to grant or deny additional types of requests received from the requesting entity (e.g., a request to create an advertising account to purchase advertising services provided by the online system).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Nathan Gaston Schmidt, Mark Ford Westling, Aparna Nemana
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Patent number: 9878586Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly (1) for supplying compressed air from a vehicle axle to a tire (3) comprises a vehicle wheel (5) and a control valve assembly (7). The wheel (5) comprises a wheel hub (9) for mounting the wheel (5) to a vehicle (V); and a wheel rim for mounting a tire (3) on the wheel (5). A transfer line (19) is provided in the wheel for transferring compressed air from the wheel hub to the wheel rim (11) for inflating the tire (3). The control valve assembly (7) comprises an inlet, an outlet and a control valve (25) operably located between the inlet and the outlet for controlling passage of compressed air between the inlet and the outlet. The control valve assembly (7) is removably disposed in the wheel hub (9) such that fluid communication is established between the control valve assembly (7) and the transfer line (19).Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Laur Läänemets, Emma-Claire Dunning, Kit Jones, Maelle Dodu, Mark Ford, Michael Boyd, Daniel Loftus
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Publication number: 20170348477Abstract: A container for enclosing a medical device is disclosed, and in one form includes a flexible sheet bearing an adhesive layer which is deposited on a portion thereof, and wherein the flexible sheet can be folded or closed in a manner so as to create a cavity which receives a medical device therein, and which further allows a clinician to determine if the medical device has been accessed or tampered with by an unauthorized individual.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2016Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: SHARON TOMLINSON, MARK FORD
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Publication number: 20170341110Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
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Patent number: 9757772Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Ackley Machine CorporationInventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
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Patent number: 9623336Abstract: A system and method of creating affinity groups of portable communication device users, and distributing targeted content to said users is disclosed. The user affinity groups may be formed by comparing user profiles with each other or with a predefined affinity group profile definition.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Daniel Simon, Mark Ford Westling, Phillip Wherry
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Publication number: 20170008036Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
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Patent number: 9468948Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Ackley Machine CorporationInventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
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Publication number: 20160167458Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly (1) for supplying compressed air from a vehicle axle to a tyre (3) comprises a vehicle wheel (5) and a control valve assembly (7). The wheel (5) comprises a wheel hub (9) for mounting the wheel (5) to a vehicle (V); and a wheel rim for mounting a tyre (3) on the wheel (5). A transfer line (19) is provided in the wheel for transferring compressed air from the wheel hub to the wheel rim (11) for inflating the tyre (3). The control valve assembly (7) comprises an inlet, an outlet and a control valve (25) operably located between the inlet and the outlet for controlling passage of compressed air between the inlet and the outlet. The control valve assembly (7) is removably disposed in the wheel hub (9) such that fluid communication is established between the control valve assembly (7) and the transfer line (19).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Laur LÄÄNEMETS, Emma-Claire DUNNING, Kit JONES, Maelle DODU, Mark FORD, Michael BOYD, Daniel LOFTUS
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Publication number: 20160107198Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD