Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Branciforte

Thomas A. Branciforte 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: 20030018504
    Abstract: An integrated material and information flow system employing a plurality of geographically-spaced receiving/distributing transfer hubs, each of which is responsible for receiving product from and supplying materials to an array of independent manufacturing and supplier sites. A two-way truck route connects each paired combination of hubs. Preferably, all materials are transported in dedicated, reusable containers. One or more truck routes in each hub region are followed among the sites linked to a given hub on a frequent and regular schedule, preferably daily. Each truck functions simultaneously to deliver to and to pick up from each site. Materials and empty containers to be delivered to a site responsible to a second or different hub are received at the first hub and are shipped to the second hub in a dedicated inter-hub shuttle vehicle. The flow of containers is regulated by a Kanban system employing twin Kanban information cards carried by the containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Yamada, Thomas A. Branciforte, Eric M. Ethington, Margaret D. Bourne, Matt J. Zayko, Patricia Zavala, Charles F. Knapp