Patents by Inventor Philippe Blanc

Philippe Blanc 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: 20250187956
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (70) for cleaning an aqueous composition, referred to as the conveying composition (61), for conveying floating objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables, in a hydraulic conveyor of such floating objects, the hydraulic conveyor being of a type; —with the recirculation of the conveying composition (61), and; —with treatment of the conveying composition (61) by addition of chlorine dioxide (65) kept in the conveying composition (61) during the conveying of such floating objects for the purposes of controlling the microbiological flora growing in the conveying composition (61), whereby a conveying composition, referred to as a chlorate-rich composition (66), comprising the chlorate anion of general formula (CO3) in a hydrated form in the chlorate-rich composition (66), is formed due to this treatment; method in which, the hydraulic conveyor being devoid of floating objects and the addition of chlorine dioxide (65) in the chlorate-rich composition (66) being suspend
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Inventor: Philippe BLANC
  • Patent number: 12234103
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for transporting objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables with a stalk, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: conveying a plurality of objects (18) on a conveyor line (12) in a longitudinal forward direction (14), each conveyed object being carried by a support (16) that is moved by the conveyor line (12) according to its longitudinal forward movement, rotating at least one support (16) supporting an object (18) in such a way as to cause the object to rotate about a non-horizontal axis and give its stalk (18a) a predetermined geometric orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: MAF AGROBOTIC
    Inventor: Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20250030145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a waveguide device including a step of producing, by additive manufacturing, a semi-finished metal core having side walls having external and internal surfaces, the internal surfaces defining an internal waveguide opening. The manufacturing process further includes a step of chemically polishing the metal core to reduce the thickness of the side walls by an ablation thickness equal to at least twice a roughness of the metal core before polishing, to obtain the waveguide device. The invention also includes a waveguide device obtained according to the above-mentioned process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Emile de Rijk, Mathieu Billod, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20250001461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a line (1) for sorting objects (7) of a system for packing such objects belonging to the group comprising fruit and vegetables, the sorting line (1) conveying a plurality of supports (6), each support (6) being intended to carry an object (7), the adjustment method being characterised in that it comprises the following steps: —moving at least one support (6) in a longitudinal direction of travel (5) of the sorting line (1); —detecting the passage of said at least one support (6) in front of a reference point (11) of the sorting line (1); —detecting the passage of said at least one support (6) in front of each discharging station Pi (12, 12?) of a plurality of discharging stations distributed along the sorting line (1), each discharging station Pi (12, 12?) being intended to be able to discharge an object (7) from said at least one support (6) that is carried by said at least one support (6) when said at least one support (6) passes in f
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventor: Philippe BLANC
  • Patent number: 12172781
    Abstract: A method is provided for packaging objects which are included in a plurality of objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group and the shape of which is such that the objects included in the plurality of objects can roll along a surface. The objects included in the plurality of objects are deposited onto a solid surface of a system for packaging the objects. The deposition surface is substantially horizontal, suitable for receiving the objects included in the plurality of objects and elastically deformable such that the deposition of each object on the deposition surface creates, under the weight of the object concerned, a recess in the deposition surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: MAF AGROBOTIC
    Inventor: Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 12146972
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker; b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 12084884
    Abstract: A device for extraction of a swimming pool cleaning robot from water or for putting the swimming pool cleaning robot into water includes a support frame and a plate. The plate can be deployed relative to the support frame beyond the support frame and below the support frame. Deployment of the plate relative to the support frame may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Simon Duffaut, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur
  • Publication number: 20240012082
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker; b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Adrien CRUCIFIX, Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 11802418
    Abstract: Swimming pool cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit intended to be immersed in a swimming pool and at least one liquid filter circuit between at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet via a filter chamber removable from the body of the cleaning unit. The filter chamber may include a cover and a filter basket. The cover may include components for fastening the filter basket and locking the filter chamber to the body of the cleaning unit. The locking component may be releasable and, when released, may cause an extraction handle to be deployed from the filter chamber and urged toward a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Faustine Munoz, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 11774539
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c). The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20230257142
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for packaging objects (2) which are included in a plurality of objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group and the shape of which is such that the objects included in the plurality of objects can roll along a surface, characterised in that the objects (2) included in the plurality of objects are deposited onto a solid surface, referred to as the deposition surface (1), of a system (10) for packaging the objects, the deposition surface (1) being substantially horizontal, suitable for receiving the objects included in the plurality of objects and elastically deformable such that the deposition of each object on the deposition surface (1) creates, under the weight of the object concerned, a recess (3) in the deposition surface (1) which tends to wedge the object in the recess (3), then the objects included in the plurality of objects deposited onto the deposition surface (1) and held in a position
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventor: Philippe BLANC
  • Patent number: 11685615
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for grouping into batches at least semi-buoyant objects belonging to the group of fruit and vegetables, comprising a plurality of accumulation channels (11), a hydraulic supply device for each accumulation channel (11), a device for supplying objects to an upstream portion of each accumulation channel, a collecting channel downstream of each accumulation channel (11), a device (14) for holding/releasing the objects in each accumulation channel Each accumulation channel (11) comprises at least one bypass passage (30) for the hydraulic stream extending from at least one inlet of the bypass passage (30) located upstream of the holding/releasing device (14) to at least one outlet of the bypass passage (30) issuing downstream of the holding/releasing device (14). A bypass valve (32) allows adjustment of said part of the diverted flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: MAF AGROBOTIC
    Inventor: Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20230172258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating tobacco material, the method comprising: o fermenting the tobacco material to obtain treated tobacco material, including: #incubating the tobacco material under anaerobic conditions; #applying a pressure to the tobacco material comprised between 1000 kilograms per square meter and 4000 kilograms per square meter; #keeping the moisture content of the tobacco material comprised between 25 percent in weight and 40 percent in weight of the total weight of the tobacco material; o wherein the fermenting lasts at least one month.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Michel Philippe Blanc, Lucien Bovet
  • Publication number: 20230003042
    Abstract: Swimming pool cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit intended to be immersed in a swimming pool and at least one liquid filter circuit between at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet via a filter chamber removable from the body of the cleaning unit. The filter chamber may include a cover and a filter basket. The cover may include components for fastening the filter basket and locking the filter chamber to the body of the cleaning unit. The locking component may be releasable and, when released, may cause an extraction handle to be deployed from the filter chamber and urged toward a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Faustine Munoz, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 11505959
    Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Publication number: 20220332518
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for transporting objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables with a stalk, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: conveying a plurality of objects (18) on a conveyor line (12) in a longitudinal forward direction (14), each conveyed object being carried by a support (16) that is moved by the conveyor line (12) according to its longitudinal forward movement, rotating at least one support (16) supporting an object (18) in such a way as to cause the object to rotate about a non-horizontal axis and give its stalk (18a) a predetermined geometric orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventor: Philippe BLANC
  • Patent number: 11473325
    Abstract: Swimming pool cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit intended to be immersed in a swimming pool and at least one liquid filter circuit between at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet via a filter chamber removable from the body of the cleaning unit. The filter chamber may include a cover and a filter basket. The cover may include components for fastening the filter basket and locking the filter chamber to the body of the cleaning unit. The locking component may be releasable and, when released, may cause an extraction handle to be deployed from the filter chamber and urged toward a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Faustine Munoz, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 11396394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for orienting an umbilicated fruit, in which, during a first orientation phase (22), the presence of at least a portion of an umbilicus is detected in at least one initial image (II), then the fruit is driven (24) in spinning rotation about a first axis of rotation at an angular amplitude of between 5° and 45°, and then the presence of at least a portion of an umbilicus is detected in at least one subsequent image (IU). If at least a portion of an umbilicus is detected in at least one initial image (II) and no longer detected in each subsequent image (IU), the first orientation phase is stopped and the method is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: MAF AGROBOTIC
    Inventor: Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 11387774
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method implementing the following steps: a) observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker (1) substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker (1), depending on the observed cloud coverage; (c) predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; d) calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; e) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker (1) according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle. The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 11327143
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c). The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER INC.
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc