Patents by Inventor Nigel G. Mills
Nigel G. Mills 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: 20100328702Abstract: A label printer for handling labels with RFID tags includes one or more advantageous features such as locating an RF encoder unit antenna in position to read and/or write to label antennas after the label antennas have exited a label output slot of the printer, providing light elements to indicate status of a read and/or write operation to a label RFID tag or a voiding step to void labels when a read and/or write operation is unsuccessful.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Mark E. Eberhardt, JR., Nigel G. Mills, Randall L. Redman, Kinred Bowling
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Publication number: 20090293423Abstract: A random weight item transaction system include a scale with label RFID tag functionality, service person RFID tag functionality and customer RFID tag functionality. A slicer in proximity to the scale may include service person and bulk food product RFID functionalities. The scale may make weigh transaction data available to a computerized checkout system via a communications link or via writing the information to the label RFID tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Robert J. Schuller, Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Mark E. Eberhardt, JR.
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Food product scale and related in-store random weight item transaction system with RFID capabilities
Patent number: 7587335Abstract: A random weight item transaction system include a scale with label RIFD tag functionality, service person RFID tag functionality and customer RFID tag functionality. A slicer in proximity to the scale may include service person and bulk food product RFID functionalities. The scale may make weigh transaction data available to a computerized checkout system via a communications link or via writing the information to the label RFID tag.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2004Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.Inventors: Robert J. Schuller, Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Mark E. Eberhardt, Jr. -
Publication number: 20090178576Abstract: A self-cleaning rotisserie oven includes a cooking chamber for cooking food product. A rotor is used for supporting and moving a food product in the cooking chamber. A sump is positioned below the cooking chamber that collects water provided to the cooking chamber. A sensor is positioned to detect when the sump is filled to a set level. An inlet valve is configured to control supply of water to the cooking chamber. A controller is configured to carry out a self-cleaning process. The self-cleaning process includes (a) a pre-rinse phase where the controller (i) opens the inlet valve, (ii) closes the inlet valve when the sensor detects that the sump is filled to the set level, and (iii) determines a duration of time that the inlet valve was open during (i), and (b) a later phase during which the controller opens the inlet valve for an amount of time based on the duration of time determined during (a)(iii).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2008Publication date: July 16, 2009Inventors: Richard D. Valentine, Nigel G. Mills, Matthew A. Weber, James M. Heiser, Clifford A. Blackmore
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Publication number: 20090129845Abstract: A supply of labels may be configured to facilitate folding. A label handling method involves initiating a label fold prior to a label completely exiting a label exit opening. A label apparatus includes a label obstructing member to promote label folding.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2009Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Kinred Bowling, Karl S. Schroeder
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Patent number: 7488003Abstract: A supply of labels may be configured to facilitate folding. A label handling method involves initiating a label fold prior to a label completely exiting a label exit opening. A label apparatus includes a label obstructing member to promote label folding.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.Inventors: Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Kinred Bowling, Karl S. Schroeder
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Publication number: 20090031781Abstract: A scale includes a self-calibration feature that enables the scale to automatically determine an appropriate gravity strength value for an operating location of the scale.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: Premark FEG L.L.C.Inventor: Nigel G. Mills
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Food Product Scale and Related In-Store Random Weight Item Transaction System with Rfid Capabilities
Publication number: 20080120193Abstract: A random weight item transaction system include a scale with label RIFD tag functionality, service person RFID tag functionality and customer RFID tag functionality. A slicer in proximity to the scale may include service person and bulk food product RFID functionalities. The scale may make weigh transaction data available to a computerized checkout system via a communications link or via writing the information to the label RFID tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2004Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: PREMARK FEG L.L.C.Inventors: Robert J. Schuller, Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Mark E. Eberhardt -
Patent number: 7301130Abstract: In an in-store oven system audible customer messages are automatically generated based upon a food product cooked in an oven within the store.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2006Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Premark FEG LLCInventor: Nigel G. Mills
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Patent number: 7094995Abstract: In an in-store oven system audible customer messages are automatically generated based upon a food product cooked in an oven within the store.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.Inventor: Nigel G. Mills
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Patent number: 7051944Abstract: A scale includes a printing mechanism that operates to produce both adhesive product pricing labels and non-adhesive promotion offer labels using label stock with a heat activated adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2004Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.Inventors: Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Mark W. Croll
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Publication number: 20040222780Abstract: A temperature history displaying medium including a color forming component which includes an electron donating dye and an electron accepting compound and which achieves a colored state by the reaction of the electron donating dye and the electron accepting compound, and a color erasing component which includes a color erasing agent, wherein the color erasing agent has a function to discolor the color forming component in the colored state, wherein the discoloring is triggered upon application of at least one of dotted heat and patterned heat, and wherein a temperature history is determined depending on the discoloring state of the color forming component in the colored state. In addition, a temperature history displaying method using the medium is also provided. Further, a method for manufacturing the medium is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Masanaka Nagamoto, Akira Ichikawa, Nigel G. Mills
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Publication number: 20040211600Abstract: In addition to standard product labels, incentive labels are printed and provided to customers when an item is identified to and weighed by a scale/label printer located in a store by accessing an incentive database to determine the existence and nature of any incentive. One or more display devices may be used in connection with providing incentives, including enabling a customer to select from among a number of incentives displayed. An incentive label construction may be provided with desirable folding features. Certain incentives may be of a graduated/progressive type to invite larger purchases by customers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Robert J. Schuller, Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills
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Patent number: 5779370Abstract: An apparatus for printing labels having a tacky side and a non-tacky printable side. The apparatus comprises a print head for printing indicia on the printable side of the labels, and a print roller disposed in close proximity to the print head. The print head is thus enabled to print indicia on the labels when the labels are supported by the print roller, the print roller having at least one annular recess in its surface thereof. The apparatus further comprises at least one elongated stripper element retained in and extending from the recess such that upon rotation of the roller, the label is transported to the stripper element. The stripper element thereby lifts the label from the surface of the roller and the label is removed from the print roller.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.Inventors: Karl Siegfried Schroeder, Nigel G. Mills, William Howard McMahon
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Patent number: 5191949Abstract: A spring formed as a Roberval-based frame of conventional material is combined with a smaller sensor in the form of a deflectable load cell of material such as a ceramic. The combination associates the higher load capacity spring with the sensor capable of performing in a manner substantially free of system error. A method for configuring the assembly for optimal system error rejection is described wherein a transmission beam carrying out a load sharing function exhibits a stress selectively greater than the average stress exhibited by the spring.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1991Date of Patent: March 9, 1993Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.Inventors: Nigel G. Mills, Ronald J. Gaines
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Patent number: 4991692Abstract: A spill control mounting arrangement for a data gathering system which is installed within a checkout counter comprises configuring the data gathering system in two parts, a first part of the system being mounted below an upper surface of the counter and a second part of the system being supported thereon. The footprint of the first part is smaller than the footprint of the second part such that the first part is substantially shielded from spilled liquids by the second part which is constructed to be impervious to such liquids. In particular, the first part may comprise a mounting channel extending across the counter and being substantially narrower in width than the second part, approximately one third the width. Components of the data gathering system are mounted within the channel for mechanical protection as well as protection from spilled liquids. A crowned channel cover can also be provided to prevent a substantial portion of any spilled liquids from entering the channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1989Date of Patent: February 12, 1991Assignee: Spectra-PhysicsInventors: Howard H. Nojiri, Nigel G. Mills, James F. Million, David L. Latimer
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Patent number: 4971177Abstract: Housing/mounting apparatus for a data gathering system inserted into a checkout counter and including a weighing scale and an optical scanner supported thereon for scanning bar code labels and defining an upper weighing surface of the scale comprises a base supported within the checkout counter for supporting the data gathering system with the scale being secured to the base. A perimeter enclosure is secured to the base and houses the optical scanner. The scale includes a spider load receiving plate supported within the perimeter enclosure through an aperture in its floor. Locator pins and corresponding holes stably position the optical scanner on the scale load receiving plate and the optical scanner thus positioned is sized such that clearance gaps required for proper operation of the weighing scale are defined between the optical scanner and the perimeter enclosure. Leveling and fastener or clamping devices are incorporated into the base to facilitate installation and maintenance of the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1989Date of Patent: November 20, 1990Assignee: Spectra-Physics, Inc.Inventors: Howard H. Nojiri, Eric L. Brandenburg, Nigel G. Mills, James F. Million, Louis J. Guzzo, Jr.
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Patent number: 4971176Abstract: A two part data gathering system for use in a checkout counter to determine information relating to products to be purchased comprises a scale freely suspended within the checkout counter for determining weights of products, the scale including a scale load receiving plate located below the upper surface of the counter. An optical scanner is supported upon the scale load receiving plate for reading coded labels on the products. The optical scanner has an upper surface including an optical scanning window through which scanning light beams pass and is vertically positioned such that its upper surface is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the checkout counter when the optical scanner is supported upon the scale load receiving plate. The weight of the optical scanner is eliminated from the weight readings provided by the scale and the upper surface of the optical scanner becomes the scale weighing platter for receiving products to be weighed by the scale.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1989Date of Patent: November 20, 1990Assignee: Spectra-Physics, Inc.Inventors: Howard H. Nojiri, Nigel G. Mills, James F. Million
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Patent number: 4957178Abstract: Apparatus for weighing vehicles in motion includes a base to be anchored to a roadbed below ground level in the path of moving vehicles and a pair of scale platforms mounted on the base for receiving the wheels on the opposite sides of the moving vehicles. Load cells are provided between the base and the platform for producing signals indicating the load applied by each wheel on the platform. A pair of flexure struts is connected between each platform and the base to apply a preload and permit relative movement therebetween in the vertical direction and to resist relative movement in the horizontal direction. The flexure struts extend lengthwise in the direction of traffic flow and are resistant to loads in that direction while being flexible in the vertical direction to permit application of the preload and flexing of the load cells. The dynamic weight signals from the load cells are converted to digital form and operated on to provide information as to the weights of the passing vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1989Date of Patent: September 18, 1990Assignee: Toledo Scale CorporationInventor: Nigel G. Mills
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Patent number: 4955441Abstract: Load cells incorporating rocker pin configured columnar central structures within a weighing system have the attribute of self-erecting upon being displaced from a vertical orientation due to dynamic transverse loading effects, as may be occasioned by vehicle movements onto a scale. The resultant transient vector forces thus developed have been observed to cause a rotational phenomenon in the rocker pin configured cells which causes unacceptable damage to the instrumentation control communication components of the load cell system. A mounting technique for such load cells is developed wherein only these rotation inducing forces are restrained, while the vertical force vectors representing valid load data are maintained in an unrestricted or uncompromised manner. In one aspect of the invention, a hexagonal form of mounting between a rocker pin neck-contact surface region and a corresponding receiver cavity achieves a fully pivoting and freely abutting geometry while effecting the noted restriction of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1989Date of Patent: September 11, 1990Assignee: Toledo Scale CorporationInventors: Nigel G. Mills, Larry C. Heckendorn, Curtis W. Long, Richard T. Smigel