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).

  • Publication number: 20240131559
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
  • Patent number: 11897001
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Publication number: 20220062538
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Covalon Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Sharon Tomlinson, Mark Ford, Karl Frosh, Gerry Arambula
  • Publication number: 20210114063
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
  • Patent number: 10919076
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Publication number: 20200101498
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
  • Patent number: 10518294
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: ACKLEY MACHINE CORPORATION
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Publication number: 20190126324
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
  • Patent number: 10201837
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Publication number: 20180121966
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan Gaston Schmidt, Mark Ford Westling, Aparna Nemana
  • Publication number: 20180109537
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan Gaston Schmidt, Mark Ford Westling, Aparna Nemana
  • Patent number: 9878586
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Laur Läänemets, Emma-Claire Dunning, Kit Jones, Maelle Dodu, Mark Ford, Michael Boyd, Daniel Loftus
  • Publication number: 20170348477
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: SHARON TOMLINSON, MARK FORD
  • Publication number: 20170341110
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
  • Patent number: 9757772
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 9623336
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Simon, Mark Ford Westling, Phillip Wherry
  • Publication number: 20170008036
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
  • Patent number: 9468948
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Publication number: 20160167458
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Laur LÄÄNEMETS, Emma-Claire DUNNING, Kit JONES, Maelle DODU, Mark FORD, Michael BOYD, Daniel LOFTUS
  • Publication number: 20160107198
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD