Patents by Inventor Richard M. Humphreys

Richard M. Humphreys 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: 6953132
    Abstract: An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less employed than those adjacent the auger. An ice gate receives ice and flowing air to direct the ice pneumatically to a multistation diverter. The flow through the diverter is vertically downwardly. Tubes from the diverter convey ice to remote dispensing stations. The dispensing stations have prechambers with drains and lockable gates to advantageously receive ice for delivery into the remote station bins or block the ice storage area to allow cleaning. Conduit couplings are configured to connect tubing without creating an area of ice blockage or allowing the buildup of contamination. Germicidal lights or ozone may be used in the ice bin to avoid contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventors: Gerald P. McCann, Donald J. Verley, Leonid Zatulovsky, Richard M. Humphreys
  • Publication number: 20040156263
    Abstract: An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less employed than those adjacent the auger. An ice gate receives ice and flowing air to direct the ice pneumatically to a multistation diverter. The flow through the diverter is vertically downwardly. Tubes from the diverter convey ice to remote dispensing stations. The dispensing stations have prechambers with drains and lockable gates to advantageously receive ice for delivery into the remote station bins or block the ice storage area to allow cleaning. Conduit couplings are configured to connect tubing without creating an area of ice blockage or allowing the buildup of contamination. Germicidal lights or ozone may be used in the ice bin to avoid contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: TMO Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Gerald P. McCann, Donald J. Verley, Leonid Zatulovsky, Richard M. Humphreys
  • Patent number: 6561691
    Abstract: An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less employed than those adjacent the auger. An ice gate receives ice and flowing air to direct the ice pneumatically to a multistation diverter. The flow through the diverter is vertically downwardly. Tubes from the diverter convey ice to remote dispensing stations. The dispensing stations have prechambers with drains and lockable gates to advantageously receive ice for delivery into the remote station bins or block the ice storage area to allow cleaning. Conduit couplings are configured to connect tubing without creating an area of ice blockage or allowing the buildup of contamination. Germicidal lights or ozone may be used in the ice bin to avoid contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: TMO Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Gerald P. McCann, Donald J. Verley, Leonid Zatulovsky, Richard M. Humphreys
  • Patent number: 5549421
    Abstract: In apparatus for conveying batches of ice lumps from a storage hopper to remotely located ice dispensers, ice lumps from the storage hopper are delivered into the main conduits through corresponding main valves and connecting conduits extending between each main valve and the storage hopper. Metering valves meter batches of ice lumps of predetermined size into the main conduits. Conveying air from an air blower is supplied to the main conduits through the main valves for conveying the batches of ice lumps. In use, batches of ice lumps are intermittently delivered into the main conduit, and the batches of ice lumps and conveying air are alternately supplied to the main conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: EOLAS-The Irish Science & Technology Agency
    Inventors: Robert C. Reinhardt, Richard M. Humphreys
  • Patent number: 5354152
    Abstract: In apparatus for conveying batches of ice lumps from a storage hopper to remotely located ice dispensers, ice lumps from the storage hopper are delivered into the main conduits through corresponding main valves and connecting conduits extending between each main valve and the storage hopper. Metering valves meter batches of ice lumps of predetermined size into the main conduits. Conveying air from an air blower is supplied to the main conduits through the main valves for conveying the batches of ice lumps. In use, batches of ice lumps are intermittently delivered into the main conduit, and the batches of ice lumps and conveying air are alternately supplied to the main conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: EOLAS - The Irish Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Robert C. Reinhardt, Richard M. Humphreys
  • Patent number: 4833555
    Abstract: In order to automatically position a magnetic disk relative to a disk drive, the drive includes a pivotable backer that provides positive seating of a central hub (on the disk) upon a drive spindle of a disk drive motor. A shuttle removes a cartridge containing the disk from a magazine and inserts the cartridge into a door offset from the spindle and commonly pivotable with the backer. The backer and door are differentially cammed so that the backer overtravels the door in a substantially continuous motion linked to the insertion movement. A hub seater depending from the backer penetrates an opening in the door to force the hub against the spindle as the door moves the disk into position relative to the drive. The backer then retreats to an offset position in which the hub seater breaks contact with the disk hub before the drive motor is started, thereby inserting the disk securely and seating the hub in one continuous motion without prolonging frictional contact as the disk begins to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Richard M. Humphreys