Patents by Inventor Patrick Ballu

Patrick Ballu 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: 11779006
    Abstract: A spraying assembly is provided. The spraying assembly includes at least one nozzle for liquid that is to be sprayed, and at least one active substance injector which is situated directly upstream from the at least one nozzle and to which liquid to be sprayed is supplied by a pump or a pressurized reservoir, with interposition of an obturator on a conduit connecting the pump or the pressurized reservoir to the injector. The spraying assembly also includes an outlet valve for each injector designed to close each outlet orifice. The present invention avoids overdosing or underdosing of the product that is to be sprayed as active substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 11161134
    Abstract: A method of applying a coating product on a surface of a part, this method being carried out using an applicator including at least one row of nozzles, among which at least the first nozzle in the row includes a valve, the method including moving the applicator in a first direction to apply a first layer of coating product, and moving the applicator in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction to apply a second layer of coating product adjacent to the first layer, comprising measuring at least one application distance of the first nozzle from a point in front of the first nozzle on a path of the applicator, and based on the measured application distance, opening or closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventors: Cyrille Medard, David Vincent, Cédric Le Strat, Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 10724663
    Abstract: A hose end adaptor for holding an inner component to be nested within an outer tube of a hose includes a first support portion for receiving the outer tube and a second support portion on which a component to be nested within the outer tube is mountable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES SA
    Inventors: Michael Rose, Robert Boughton, Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 10561062
    Abstract: This root crop harvesting machine (2) is adapted to harvest root crop (4), in particular beet crop, the root crop harvesting machine comprising an uprooting device (14) adapted to uproot the root crop. The root crop harvesting machine comprises an applicator (40) device adapted to apply an agent (52) to the root crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Exel Industries
    Inventors: Patrick Ballu, Michael Gallmeier
  • Patent number: 10549291
    Abstract: A spray nozzle for electrostatic spraying of a coating product including a needle forming a mobile shutter of a valve for controlling the spraying, which is positioned in a recess of a barrel of the nozzle. The recess defines a surface for guiding the axial translation of the needle along a longitudinal axis of the recess. The needle includes a front shaped for abutting a seat to obstruct a duct for flow of the coating product, a rear portion which interacts with means for controlling the translation of the needle and a central portion comprised between the front end and the rear portion, while a high-voltage unit included in the nozzle is capable of applying a high-voltage to the front end of the needle. A raised portion provided on the central portion of the needle, inside the recess, can increase the electric creepage distance along the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SAMES KREMLIN
    Inventors: Patrick Ballu, Michel Di-Gioia, Gilles Goisot, Philippe Provenaz
  • Patent number: 10343585
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural machine for spraying a phytosanitary liquid over cultivated land, said machine comprising means for moving the machine, a spray boom having at least one arm, a mechanism for inclining the boom and/or at least one of the arms in relation to a frame of the machine and vertically when the machine is on a flat and horizontal surface, and a mechanism for raising/lowering the boom along an axis fixed in relation to the frame of the machine. At least one of the arms is provided with at least one sensor, each sensor measuring a distance between the surface of the land and said sensor or, if necessary, between the crop and the sensor. The control unit is connected to each sensor, provided with a memory for storing information provided by each sensor, and able to control the raising/lowering mechanism according to information stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu
  • Publication number: 20190091712
    Abstract: A method of applying a coating product on a surface of a part, this method being carried out using an applicator including at least one row of nozzles, among which at least the first nozzle in the row includes a valve, the method including moving the applicator in a first direction to apply a first layer of coating product, and moving the applicator in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction to apply a second layer of coating product adjacent to the first layer, comprising measuring at least one application distance of the first nozzle from a point in front of the first nozzle on a path of the applicator, and based on the measured application distance, opening or closing the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Cyrille Medard, David Vincent, Cédric Le Strat, Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 10028499
    Abstract: This manual and localized weeding apparatus (1) comprises a heat generator (4) which is attached to a rod (2). The heat generator (4) comprises a fan and a heating resistor projecting a hot air jet (J1) into an inner volume (V5) of a bell (5) provided with a free edge (551) for supporting the apparatus (1) on the ground. According to the invention, the bell (5) is provided with at least one hole for discharging an air jet (J2) from the inner volume (V5) of the bell (5). The hole is separated from the free edge (551) by a distance of more than 2 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 10022757
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a spraying circuit, in particular of paint, and for treating the chemical effluents generated includes a first rinsing of the paint circuit using a predetermined first volume of treated effluent, a second rinsing of the paint circuit using a predetermined second volume of ecosolvent and a third rinsing of the paint circuit using a predetermined third volume of treated effluent, so as to save on the consumption of water from the network by recycling the treated effluent to clean and rinse the paint circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventors: Patrick Ballu, Philippe Briet, Philippe Poirier
  • Patent number: 9919330
    Abstract: An installation for spraying a coating product on objects, such as motor vehicle bodies, that are moved by a conveyor (4) parallel to a conveying axis (X4) and having base (102) and mobile (104-108) portions. A multi-axis spraying robot (50) is dedicated to spraying a coating product. A multi-axis handling robot (60) is dedicated to maneuvering the mobile portion (104-106-108) of an object (100) to be coated relative to the base portion (102). Each robot is movable parallel to the conveying axis. Ventilation means provide a flow of ventilation air (F1) inside a booth (3), perpendicular to the conveying axis (X4). The spraying and handling robots (50, 60) are both slidably mounted along a same rail (8) parallel to the conveying axis (X4), and can pass each other. The rail is disposed upstream from the objects to be coated (100), in the direction of flow of the ventilation air (F1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SAMES KREMLIN
    Inventors: François Letard, Patrick Ballu
  • Publication number: 20170363236
    Abstract: A hose end adaptor for holding an inner component to be nested within an outer tube of a hose includes a first support portion for receiving the outer tube and a second support portion on which a component to be nested within the outer tube is mountable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: EXEL Industries SA
    Inventors: Michael ROSE, Robert BOUGHTON, Patrick BALLU
  • Publication number: 20170311540
    Abstract: This root crop harvesting machine (2) is adapted to harvest root crop (4), in particular beet crop, the root crop harvesting machine comprising an uprooting device (14) adapted to uproot the root crop. The root crop harvesting machine comprises an applicator (40) device adapted to apply an agent (52) to the root crop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick BALLU, Michael GALLMEIER
  • Publication number: 20170252765
    Abstract: An applicator making it possible to apply a coating product on a surface to be coated, including at least one row of nozzles, among which at least the first nozzle in the row includes a valve, the applicator further including at least one distance sensor, to measure an application distance of the first nozzle from a point in front of the latter on a path of the applicator, and an electronic control unit of the valve, which is programmed to collect the distance measured by the distance sensor and, based on the collected distance value, to open or close the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Cyrille Medard, David Vincent, Cédric Le Strat, Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 9707882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural machine for spraying a phytosanitary liquid over cultivated land, said machine comprising means for moving the machine, a spray boom having at least one arm, a mechanism for inclining the boom and/or at least one of the arms in relation to a frame of the machine and vertically when the machine is on a flat and horizontal surface, and a mechanism for raising/lowering the boom along an axis fixed in relation to the frame of the machine. At least one of the arms is provided with at least one sensor, each sensor measuring a distance between the surface of the land and said sensor or, if necessary, between the crop and the sensor. The control unit is connected to each sensor, provided with a memory for storing information provided by each sensor, and able to control the raising/lowering mechanism according to information stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu
  • Publication number: 20170142957
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural machine for spraying a phytosanitary liquid over cultivated land, said machine comprising means for moving the machine, a spray boom having at least one arm, a mechanism for inclining the boom and/or at least one of the arms in relation to a frame of the machine and vertically when the machine is on a flat and horizontal surface, and a mechanism for raising/lowering the boom along an axis fixed in relation to the frame of the machine. At least one of the arms is provided with at least one sensor, each sensor measuring a distance between the surface of the land and said sensor or, if necessary, between the crop and the sensor. The control unit is connected to each sensor, provided with a memory for storing information provided by each sensor, and able to control the raising/lowering mechanism according to information stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventor: Patrick BALLU
  • Patent number: 9565847
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural machine for spraying a phytosanitary liquid over a crop planted in a section of land, comprising a spray boom having at least one arm, a mechanism for raising/lowering the boom and, for each arm, a mechanism for inclining the arm, a manual system for controlling each inclining body, and a receiver for communicating with a geolocalization system and a control unit. Each arm is provided with at least one sensor measuring a distance between said sensor and the surface of the land or vegetation planted in the land, and an element for measuring a datum relating to the incline of the arm. The control unit is connected to each sensor, to the receiver and to the measuring element, is provided with a storage memory, and is able to control each inclining mechanism and the raising/lowering mechanism according to the information stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu
  • Publication number: 20160368007
    Abstract: A spray nozzle for electrostatic spraying of a coating product including a needle forming a mobile shutter of a valve for controlling the spraying, which is positioned in a recess of a barrel of the nozzle. The recess defines a surface for guiding the axial translation of the needle along a longitudinal axis of the recess. The needle includes a front shaped for abutting a seat to obstruct a duct for flow of the coating product, a rear portion which interacts with means for controlling the translation of the needle and a central portion comprised between the front end and the rear portion, while a high-voltage unit included in the nozzle is capable of applying a high-voltage to the front end of the needle. A raised portion provided on the central portion of the needle, inside the recess, can increase the electric creepage distance along the central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Sames Technologies
    Inventors: Patrick Ballu, Michel Di-Gioia, Gilles Goisot, Philippe Provenaz
  • Publication number: 20160205919
    Abstract: This manual and localized weeding apparatus (1) comprises a heat generator (4) which is attached to a rod (2). The heat generator (4) comprises a fan and a heating resistor projecting a hot air jet (J1) into an inner volume (V5) of a bell (5) provided with a free edge (551) for supporting the apparatus (1) on the ground. According to the invention, the bell (5) is provided with at least one hole for discharging an air jet (J2) from the inner volume (V5) of the bell (5). The hole is separated from the free edge (551) by a distance of more than 2 cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Patrick BALLU
  • Publication number: 20160198694
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural machine for spraying a phytosanitary liquid over a crop planted in a section of land, comprising a spray boom having at least one arm, a mechanism for raising/lowering the boom and, for each arm, a mechanism for inclining the arm, a manual system for controlling each inclining body, and a receiver for communicating with a geolocalisation system and a control unit. Each arm is provided with at least one sensor measuring a distance between said sensor and the surface of the land or vegetation planted in the land, and an element for measuring a datum relating to the incline of the arm. The control unit is connected to each sensor, to the receiver and to the measuring element, is provided with a storage memory, and is able to control each inclining mechanism and the raising/lowering mechanism according to the information stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Patrick BALLU
  • Patent number: 9345239
    Abstract: A manual and localized weeding apparatus including a heat generator which is attached to a rod and wherein the heat generator has a fan and a heating resistor for projecting a hot air jet into an inner volume of a bell of the apparatus and which bell is provided with a free edge for supporting the apparatus on a support surface and wherein the bell is provided with at least one hole for discharging another air jet from the inner volume of the bell and wherein the at least one hole is spaced from the free edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu