Patents by Inventor Robert Powell

Robert Powell 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: 20260153373
    Abstract: A doser assembly includes a hopper assembly configured to receive filler material, a vibration transmission assembly coupled to the hopper assembly, and a paddle in a hopper opening that extends through the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly includes a shaft that is configured to rotate around a central rotation axis, an eccentric that is fixed to the shaft and has a center that is radially offset from the central rotation axis, a connecting rod that is pivotably connected to the center of the eccentric, and a bracket that is pivotably connected to the connecting rod. A first end of the paddle is pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly at a paddle pivot joint. The paddle is fixed to the bracket of the vibration transmission assembly separately from the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly is configured to cause the paddle to reciprocatingly pivot around the paddle pivot joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2026
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert POWELL, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Jeremy STRAIGHT, Isaac J. MCGILL, James David EVANS, Patrick MCELHINNEY
  • Patent number: 12599936
    Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert Powell, Christopher R. Newcomb, Jeremy Straight, Isaac J. McGill, James David Evans, Patrick McElhinney
  • Patent number: 12582363
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a first portion and a second portion that translates and/or rotates with respect to the first portion. A first locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from translating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport of the system. A second locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport and/or during an imaging scan. Further embodiments include a cable management system between the first and second portions, a spherically-shaped surface of a support gimbal and a user interface device for an imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Mobius Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Gregerson, Russell Stanton, Paul Sebring, Michael Connor, Robert Powell
  • Publication number: 20260062179
    Abstract: The container includes a base with a first sidewall and a floor that define a primary cavity, the floor being attached to a first interior surfaces of the first sidewall, the first sidewall having a first end and a second end, a first lid, the first lid being configured to connect to the first end of the first sidewall to close the primary cavity, and a second lid, the second lid being configured to connect to the second end of the sidewall to close a secondary cavity that is defined in part by the floor, the floor including an extended position that expands a first volume of the primary cavity and reduces a second volume of the secondary cavity, the floor including a retracted position that reduces the first volume of the primary cavity and expands the second volume of the secondary cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2025
    Publication date: March 5, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Isaac MCGILL, Sean SUNDBERG, Robert POWELL, Jarrod CHALKLEY, James EVANS
  • Patent number: 12560468
    Abstract: A doser assembly includes a hopper assembly configured to receive filler material, a vibration transmission assembly coupled to the hopper assembly, and a paddle in a hopper opening that extends through the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly includes a shaft that is configured to rotate around a central rotation axis, an eccentric that is fixed to the shaft and has a center that is radially offset from the central rotation axis, a connecting rod that is pivotably connected to the center of the eccentric, and a bracket that is pivotably connected to the connecting rod. A first end of the paddle is pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly at a paddle pivot joint. The paddle is fixed to the bracket of the vibration transmission assembly separately from the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly is configured to cause the paddle to reciprocatingly pivot around the paddle pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert Powell, Christopher R. Newcomb, Jeremy Straight, Isaac J. Mcgill, James David Evans, Patrick Mcelhinney
  • Publication number: 20260035185
    Abstract: A feed assembly includes a conveyor assembly and a supply assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt apparatus, a conveyor frame, and conveyor rollers enabling movement of the conveyor assembly over a support surface. The supply assembly includes a supply apparatus configured to discharge a material through a discharge port, a supply frame, and supply rollers enabling movement of the supply assembly over the support surface. The conveyor assembly is movable to align a front end of the conveyor belt apparatus with an intake port of an external structure, and the supply assembly is movable in relation to the conveyor assembly to vertically overlap the discharge port over a rear end of the conveyor belt apparatus, to enable the conveyor assembly to convey material discharged from the discharge port to the intake port based on operation of the supply apparatus and the conveyor belt apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2025
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Isaac J. MCGILL, Sean P. SUNDBERG, Charles DENDY, Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Kathryn DILL, Robert POWELL
  • Publication number: 20250162750
    Abstract: A packaging machine includes a rotatable apparatus and an ejection system. The rotatable apparatus rotates a plurality of funnels around a first central rotation axis at a first rate of rotation while a plurality of containers move continuously along an arcuate path while remaining axially aligned with separate, respective bottom openings of the plurality of funnels. The ejection system ejects separate pluralities of material articles from a fixed ejection position at a fixed time interval, and the rotatable apparatus receives the separate pluralities of material articles at a fixed material receiving position. The rotatable apparatus directs a same quantity of material articles into each continuously moving container based on rotating around the first central rotation axis such that each separate funnel moves continuously through the material receiving position concurrently with the rotatable apparatus receiving at least one plurality of material articles at the fixed material receiving position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2024
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Sean SUNDBERG, Robert POWELL, Isaac J. MCGILL, Charles DENDY
  • Publication number: 20250127464
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a first portion and a second portion that translates and/or rotates with respect to the first portion. A first locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from translating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport of the system. A second locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport and/or during an imaging scan. Further embodiments include a cable management system between the first and second portions, a spherically-shaped surface of a support gimbal and a user interface device for an imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: Mobius Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Gregerson, Russell Stanton, Paul Sebring, Michael Connor, Robert Powell
  • Publication number: 20250100734
    Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert POWELL, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Jeremy STRAIGHT, Isaac J. MCGILL, James David EVANS, Patrick MCELHINNEY
  • Publication number: 20250072852
    Abstract: A mobile diagnostic imaging system includes a battery system and charging system. The battery system is located in the rotating portion of the imaging system, and includes one or more battery packs comprising electrochemical cells. Each battery pack includes a control circuit that controls the state of charge of each electrochemical cell, and implements a control scheme that causes the electrochemical cells to have a similar charge state. The battery system communicates with a charging system on the non-rotating portion to terminate charge when one or more of the electrochemical cells reach a full state of charge. The imaging system also includes a docking system that electrically connects the charging system to the battery system during charging and temporarily electrically disconnects the rotating and non-rotating portions during imaging, and a drive mechanism for rotating the rotating portion relative to the non-rotating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Mobius Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Gregerson, Michael Connor, Michael Allen, Paul Sebring, Robert Powell, Russell Stanton, Scott Coppen
  • Patent number: 12195221
    Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert Powell, Christopher R. Newcomb, Jeremy Straight, Isaac J. McGill, James David Evans, Patrick McElhinney
  • Patent number: 12171599
    Abstract: A mobile diagnostic imaging system includes a battery system and charging system. The battery system is located in the rotating portion of the imaging system, and includes one or more battery packs comprising electrochemical cells. Each battery pack includes a control circuit that controls the state of charge of each electrochemical cell, and implements a control scheme that causes the electrochemical cells to have a similar charge state. The battery system communicates with a charging system on the non-rotating portion to terminate charge when one or more of the electrochemical cells reach a full state of charge. The imaging system also includes a docking system that electrically connects the charging system to the battery system during charging and temporarily electrically disconnects the rotating and non-rotating portions during imaging, and a drive mechanism for rotating the rotating portion relative to the non-rotating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Mobius Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Gregerson, Michael Connor, Michael Allen, Paul Sebring, Robert Powell, Russell Stanton, Scott Coppen
  • Publication number: 20240341700
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a first portion and a second portion that translates and/or rotates with respect to the first portion. A first locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from translating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport of the system. A second locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport and/or during an imaging scan. Further embodiments include a cable management system between the first and second portions, a spherically-shaped surface of a support gimbal and a user interface device for an imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Mobius Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Gregerson, Russell Stanton, Paul Sebring, Michael Connor, Robert Powell
  • Patent number: 12073154
    Abstract: Disclosed are computer implemented techniques for correcting for numerically generated pressure waves at an inlet of a simulation space. The techniques include receiving a model of a simulation space and applying an inlet pressure to an inlet of the simulation space. The applied inlet pressure generates fluctuating velocities that produce undesired, numerically-generated pressure waves. The numerically generated pressure waves are measured to establish a measured pressure history. The measured pressure history is subtracted from the applied inlet boundary pressure history to provide a set of boundary conditions. The process conducts a fluid simulation using the set of boundary conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Sivapalan Senthooran, Mohamed Ibrahim Eldesouky, Robert Powell, Ales Alajbegovic
  • Patent number: 11957493
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a first portion and a second portion that translates and/or rotates with respect to the first portion. A first locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from translating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport of the system. A second locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport and/or during an imaging scan. Further embodiments include a cable management system between the first and second portions, a spherically-shaped surface of a support gimbal and a user interface device for an imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Mobius Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Gregerson, Russell Stanton, Paul Sebring, Michael Connor, Robert Powell
  • Publication number: 20240109680
    Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert POWELL, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Jeremy STRAIGHT, Isaac J. MCGILL, James David EVANS, Patrick MCELHINNEY
  • Patent number: 11891204
    Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert Powell, Christopher R. Newcomb, Jeremy Straight, Isaac J. McGill, James David Evans, Patrick McElhinney
  • Publication number: 20230314199
    Abstract: A doser assembly includes a hopper assembly configured to receive filler material, a vibration transmission assembly coupled to the hopper assembly, and a paddle in a hopper opening that extends through the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly includes a shaft that is configured to rotate around a central rotation axis, an eccentric that is fixed to the shaft and has a center that is radially offset from the central rotation axis, a connecting rod that is pivotably connected to the center of the eccentric, and a bracket that is pivotably connected to the connecting rod. A first end of the paddle is pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly at a paddle pivot joint. The paddle is fixed to the bracket of the vibration transmission assembly separately from the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly is configured to cause the paddle to reciprocatingly pivot around the paddle pivot joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert Powell, Christopher R. Newcomb, Jeremy Straight, Isaac J. McGill, James David Evans, Patrick McElhinney
  • Patent number: 11744198
    Abstract: An orchid growing and holding apparatus that is configured to releasably secure an orchid thereto and further is configured to be mounted to a vertical support surface. A base member that is planar in manner and rectangular in shape is provided. The base member has a mounting aperture proximate the upper end thereof. The base member includes a first securing aperture and a second securing aperture axially aligned horizontally journaled through the base member proximate the lower end thereof. A securing member is provided and operable to be passed through the first securing aperture and second securing aperture and bias an orchid against the front surface of the base member. A plant support member is provided on the front surface and has a radius curved body that extends outward from the front surface. A hook member is provided to suspend the present invention from a vertical support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Powell
  • Publication number: 20230257149
    Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert POWELL, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Jeremy STRAIGHT, Isaac J. MCGILL, James David EVANS, Patrick MCELHINNEY