Patents Issued in February 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9561882
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a bag comprising mesh and film side walls and a reinforcing strip of film; wherein (a) the mesh side wall is sealed to opposing side edges of the film side wall; (b) the reinforcing strip of film is sealed to an upper portion of the mesh side wall and to the opposing side edges of the film side wall; (c) the film side wall has a bottom extension, which is monolithic with the film side wall, extending upwardly and sealed along a lateral extent of a bottom portion of the mesh side wall; (d) the film side wall is non-coplanar with a portion of the bottom extension; (e) another portion of the bottom extension is non-coplanar with the mesh side wall; and (f) a horizontal axis intersects the bottom portion of the film side wall and three portions of the bottom extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KENNETH FOX SUPLY COMPANY
    Inventors: L. Keith Fox, Aaron Fox, Craig Fox
  • Patent number: 9561883
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a prescription label bag which creates a simple, effective and private labelled bag for storing various prescriptions or medicines. The method of fabricating a prescription label bag generally includes a sheet having a plurality of folding indicia preset therein for ease-of-folding into a prescription bag. Adhesive strips are located along the sheet to ease formation of the bag after completion of the necessary folds using the folding indicia. The formed prescription bag includes an upper opening through which the prescription items may be inserted into the bag and a sealed lower end. A label or printed information may be included on the outer surface of the bag to provide instructions or other relevant information regarding the prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Stefan Jerzy Debski
  • Patent number: 9561884
    Abstract: A composite closure having a double-wall configuration facilitates convenient use by consumers, and permits in-shell formation of a sealing liner. The closure includes an outer closure cap having inner and outer annular skirt portions arranged in concentric relationship with each other. The closure includes a sealing liner formed in the closure cap at the inside surface of the top wall portion of the closure cap. A method of compression-molding the sealing liner is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Closure Systems International Inc.
    Inventor: Ramesh Kamath
  • Patent number: 9561885
    Abstract: A tamper resistant thermoformed container having a tray and a lid, where the tray has an inside shelf between the cavity floor and a second shelf that extends to a cavity rim, where the lid has a sealing slot formed to engage the inside shelf of the tray, and where the lid also has a latching tab formed to fit into a matching latching hole on the tray. This structure keeps the lid on the tray by a combination of friction between the lid sealing slot and the tray inside shelf, plus interference between the latching tab and the latching hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Plastic Ingenuity, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen B. Studee
  • Patent number: 9561886
    Abstract: Multi-layer films suitable as sealable or peelable sheet that can be used for closing foodstuff containers are described. These multi-layer films includes a polymeric substrate layer and a seal or a peel-seal layer. The multilayer composite film preferably includes four component layers, namely in order, a polymeric base layer for mechanical strength, a thin organic barrier layer, an ethylene polymer-based adhesive layer, and a heat seal layer including an ethylene copolymer, such as ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. The film is useful as a peelable heat sealable lid for containers of diverse polymer compositions storing various products such as foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TORAY PLASTICS (AMERICA), INC.
    Inventors: Tracy A. Paolilli, John J. Fitch, Roberto Siu
  • Patent number: 9561887
    Abstract: A hopper having a passage through which a medicine can be passed downward is provided. A part of a lower portion of the hopper is a deformable portion having flexibility, and the deformable portion is deformable so as to open and close the passage. According to this configuration, the deformable portion that is a part of the hopper is deformed to open and close the passage. Thus, there is no portion such as an opening and closing plate on which the medicine remains, thereby preventing a gap in which the medicine remains from being formed in the hopper, and preventing the medicine from easily remaining in the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Takazono Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenji Kawata
  • Patent number: 9561888
    Abstract: A beverage can end for seaming onto a can body may include a peripheral wall, a center panel, a tab attached to the center panel by a rivet (56), a tear panel (41b), a main reference line (RM), a transverse reference line (RT), and a score (31b). The score may include arcuate main score (31b) that defines a main portion of the tear panel (41b) and a score extension (32b) that defines a vent portion. The score may be configured such that actuation of the tab from its horizontal rest position to an intermediate position ruptures the main score portion (31b) to pivot the tear panel main portion (40b) about the hinge and further actuation of the tab by twisting from the intermediate position ruptures the score extension (32b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Nesling, Ezekiel Johnson, Brendan Keane, Jan Dvorak
  • Patent number: 9561889
    Abstract: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Dayrit, Robert A. Odabashian, Janet W. Rivett, Thomas D. Kennedy, Diana Huerta, Tom Bonner, Rodney R. Hodgson, Mendy W. Mossbrook, H. Walker Stockley, Richard K. Watson
  • Patent number: 9561890
    Abstract: A merchandise storage container includes a tool that is used with the merchandise provided in the container. The tool is an integral part of the storage container until the user of the merchandise separates the tool from the container and uses it with the merchandise from the container. In one embodiment, a paperboard-based merchandise storage container having a storage chamber for flexible screen savers includes a squeegee that is integrally formed during the formation of the merchandise storage container. The squeegee is separable from the container after the user accesses the screen savers so that the user has a squeegee ready for the installation of the screen savers on a phone or tablet computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: James Robert Denney
  • Patent number: 9561891
    Abstract: A packaging box includes a body part, flaps and a buffer. The body part has a rectangular bottom plate and side plates erected from four sides of the bottom plate, and is provided with an opening at an upper face. The flaps are connected to upper edges of the side plates via fold lines to close the opening by being folded inside. The buffer is interposed between the body part and a packaged article. The buffer has an engaging groove formed so as to grip the side plate and the flap folded up the outside of the side plate by being folded back outside along the fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 9561892
    Abstract: An airtight enclosure comprising a pair of enclosure shells each having a pair of first edges and a pair of second edges extending transversely to the first direction. The first edges are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the length of the second edges, the second edges are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the length of the first edges, and the first edges have complementary assemblages for assembling first edges of the enclosure shells, and at least one of the second edges has a groove for accommodating a resilient sealing member in sealing contact with a second edge of the other one of the enclosure shells so that mating edges of each pair of second edge portions allow being assembled within a range of relative positions transverse to their longitudinal direction with the resilient seal or gasket in sealing contact with the mating edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Airmaster A/S
    Inventor: Erik Bjørn
  • Patent number: 9561893
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting biological or other material from contamination through the steps of filling, freeze-drying, packaging, storing and use are disclosed. A system can include a flexible container, a membrane configured to transmit air or solvent vapor out of the flexible container, and a membrane frame supporting the membrane and engaged with at least one column member. The at least one column member can be configured to maintain the membrane and the membrane frame a spaced distance from one or more contents received within the flexible container. Upon application of a downward force, the at least one column member can assume a collapsed configuration. A method can include inserting a biological material, for example, into a flexible container, freeze-drying the biological material, moving the freeze-dried biological material to a portion of the flexible container that includes at least one port, and sealing the biological material within the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Vascular Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Root, Stephen Anthony Penegor, James Arnold Murto
  • Patent number: 9561894
    Abstract: A package for storing or containing at least one ethylene response manipulation agent such as 1-methylcyclopropene is disclosed. The package can have multiple film layers, but preferably the outer layer comprises a polymer at least partially soluble when contacted with an aqueous media, and the inner layer comprising an ethylene response manipulation agent permeable film structure. Aerosols comprising the ethylene response manipulation agents are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MirTech, Inc.
    Inventor: Nazir Mir
  • Patent number: 9561895
    Abstract: Production of sterile therapeutic medium such as sterile surgical slush for use in surgery. A sterile slush container with a sterile sleeve assembly so that the outside of the sterile slush container remains sterile after placement in a non-sterile slush making machine so that the sterile slush container may be returned to the sterile field after removal of the sterile slush container from the sleeve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: C° Change Surgical LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Kammer, Kevin Joseph Rackers, Philip Morrison Allred, III
  • Patent number: 9561896
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a packaging apparatus, comprising multiple packaging elements, each packaging element comprises a slot for receiving a LCD module, and the packaging apparatus further comprises a connecting means for integrating the multiple packaging elements side by side. Therefore, the packaging apparatus can be used for both LCD modules and end-products such as TV, display devices, the packaging cost can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZEHN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Qianshuang Hu, Shih Hsiang Chen, Chengwen Que, Yi Cheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 9561897
    Abstract: This disclosure features use of a paper or polymer film that includes a slip agent that can transfer to its surfaces. Once the paper or film is pressed against a glass sheet, this will leave a thin surface roughness of slip agent that can prevent or reduce glass surface scratches from other surfaces or particles during shipping or finishing (e.g., cutting to size, conveyance of glass), thereby improving the yield of glass shipments between glass forming plants and customers. The thin discontinuous layer of slip agent remaining on the glass surface can be washed off easily in subsequent washing processes. The paper or film can have the slip agent imbibed within the paper or coated on it as a surface member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng Chen, Timothy Michael Gross, David Alan Tammaro, Liming Wang
  • Patent number: 9561898
    Abstract: A marine side curtain stowage apparatus for stowing pliant marine side curtains in sheet form includes a pliant base layer having an outer weather surface and an inner surface, a pliant top layer formed from a nonabrasive material for abutting contact with the entire transparent portion of a side curtain, a first fastening element operatively associated with the base layer and the top layer for releasably joining the first side edge of the base layer with the first side edge of the top layer; and a second fastening element associated with the base layer and the top layer for releasably joining the second side edge of the base layer with the second side edge of the top layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventors: David Love, Martin Love
  • Patent number: 9561899
    Abstract: A package for a particulate laundry scent additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Natalie Vitalia Lopez, Adrian Keith McKinney, Richard Lawrence Horstman, Kristin Marie Finley, Karen Hussong Strader
  • Patent number: 9561900
    Abstract: The invention provides a beverage preparation machine comprising a brew head for receiving beverage cartridges of various heights and means for passing an aqueous medium through said beverage cartridges to form a beverage from one or more beverage ingredients contained in said cartridges. The brew head comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being movable relative to one another from an open position in which said beverage cartridges can be received in the brew head and a closed position in which said beverage cartridge can be fixedly retained in a brew head space defined between the first and second parts. Wherein in use, beverage cartridges of various heights may be clamped in the brew head space between a distal end of a clamping member and the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventor: Nick Hansen
  • Patent number: 9561901
    Abstract: Capsule (9) for use in a beverage preparation machine (1), said capsule comprising side (10), bottom (12) and top (11) walls defining a closed chamber, said chamber containing an ingredient, said capsule further comprising a beverage dispensing wall able to open for releasing a beverage prepared from said ingredient and said fluid, said capsule further comprising a pierceable plug (14) located adjacent to the inner side of the injection wall of the capsule, and made of a resilient material, said plug having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, and said plug having shape and dimensions such as to be pierced through by the fluid injection element (20) when said capsule is functionally inserted within said machine, characterized in that said plug (14) is supported by a plug supporting member (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Nihan Dogan, Nicolas Jean-Guy Bezet, Ahmed Azouz
  • Patent number: 9561902
    Abstract: A gate assembly for a bulk feeder includes a gate housing and a plurality of paddles. The gate housing defines a product feed path therein extending between intake and dispensing ends. The plurality of paddles are mounted to the gate housing and pivotable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the product feed path is blocked by the plurality of paddles, and unblocked in the open position. In the closed position, the plurality of paddles collectively forms a polyhedron, open facing the intake end and tapering to a closed apex toward the dispensing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Scott Veix
  • Patent number: 9561903
    Abstract: A receptacle assembly disclosed herein includes a receptacle housing, a liner assembly having a base member and an insertion member, wherein the insertion member is situated above the base member in either a rejection position or an acceptance position. When the insertion member is placed in its acceptance position with respect to the base member, the receptacle assembly can hold a drape over portion of another liner between the insertion member and the receptacle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Test Rite Products Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph Wall
  • Patent number: 9561904
    Abstract: A multi-purpose dumping device mounted on one vehicle assists with the emptying of both a heavy commercial refuse container and a lighter residential refuse container and easily operable by the current vehicle structure without substantial modification to the tipping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Qwik-Tip, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren Osborn
  • Patent number: 9561905
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle including a frame having a longitudinal axis extending from a front of the frame to a back of the frame, at least one first guide member mounted on one side of the frame and having a first guide member frame of reference, and at least one second guide member mounted to an opposite side of the frame than the at least one first guide member and having a second guide member frame of reference, wherein the first and second guide members are asymmetrically compliant guide members so that a stiffness of the at least one first guide member in response to a force in a predetermined direction relative to the first guide member frame of reference is different than a stiffness of the at least second guide member in response to the force in the predetermined direction relative to the second guide member frame of reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SYMBOTIC, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Justin Holwell
  • Patent number: 9561906
    Abstract: A multiple pronged hook assembly has hook shafts that can be rotated and locked into desired positions individually, independent from the other hook shafts and is sealed free from outside elements, dirt, or liquid. A junction body securely encloses shafts of planetary hooks with a cylindrical opening to rotatably accommodate a cylindrical shaft of at least one circumferentially rotatable hook. A plunger rod has a rigging aperture at a top. A bottom end of the plunger is slidably disposed within a center of the junction body between the shafts of the plurality of planetary hooks to rotatably lock the at least one circumferentially rotatable hook when the plunger rod is in an up position and rotatably unlock the at least one circumferentially rotatable hook when the plunger rod is in a down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: John Carl Van Hoorn
  • Patent number: 9561907
    Abstract: The present invention is an endless carrier for a conveyor. The endless carrier is equipped with a chain including roller bearings for engaging a wall of the conveyor and slats with landing gears for engaging tracks of the conveyor. The endless carrier is particularly useful for a conveyor having one or more curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TRANSNORM SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventors: Harlen Hoang, James Sulzer, Michael Hake, John Langsdorf, Rick Lee
  • Patent number: 9561908
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating piece goods which are to be stored in an automated store comprises a stepped conveyor for conveying piece goods from a stockpile beyond an upper edge of the stepped conveyor to a collecting device, wherein the stepped conveyor comprises an inclined bearing surface and a first step which can be moved in parallel over the bearing surface with a conveying edge which is parallel to the bearing surface, wherein the spacing between the bearing surface and the conveying edge corresponds to a minimum step height which suffices to push parallelepiped-shaped piece goods upwards, and a control device for actuating the stepped conveyor, which control device is coupled to a sensor which detects whether a piece goods item has been conveyed beyond the upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Dietmar Gross, Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 9561909
    Abstract: An extruder (100) for use in a dispenser (1) of a loose product (30) for the preparation of beverages, comprising: a housing (110), defining a product inlet (112), a product outlet (114), and a bore (116) that interconnects the product inlet and the product outlet; a screw feeder (120) including a screw blade (124) that is both rotatably and translatably received in the bore (116), such that it is axially movable along the longitudinal axis (/) between a first position and a second position; and a first sealing device (126b) that is configured to releasably fluidtightly seal a portion of the bore (116) interconnecting the product inlet (112) and the product outlet (114) in dependence of the axial position of the screw blade (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Ronald Van Der Woning
  • Patent number: 9561910
    Abstract: An assembly line may include a first pallet elevator, a second pallet elevator, an upper track, and a lower track. The upper track may be connected between the first elevator and the second elevator, and may be configured to transport pallets between the first pallet elevator and the second pallet elevator. The lower track disposed below the upper track, and may be configured to transport pallets between the second pallet elevator and the first pallet elevator. A lower track drive system may be connected between the first pallet elevator and the second pallet elevator, and may be configured to engage a first set of a plurality of pallets. An upper track drive system may be configured to engage at least one of the plurality of pallets and to drive a second set of the plurality of pallets via the at least one pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Cracchiolo Orsini, Luis Ernesto Noe Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9561911
    Abstract: A portable conveyor system comprising a modularly constructed conveyor and a plurality of transport modules each formed of a plurality of previously installed and previously tested conveyor components, wherein the modules are arranged at least one of directly adjacent next to each other and on top of each other for commonly forming the system in a connected state, wherein the conveyor comprises: a plurality of conveying lines commonly forming, with regard to material flow, a predefined course of conveying lines, wherein each of the conveying lines comprises a separate machine frame; at least one drive unit; at least one control device; and transport means movable along the course of conveying lines by the at least one drive unit in order to transport load supports through the system; and wherein each of the modules comprises: a standardized exterior dimension; a support structure, a dimension of which is adapted to the standardized exterior dimension; and at least one of the conveying lines, wherein the machi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SSI SCHÄFER PEEM GMBH
    Inventor: Rainer Buchmann
  • Patent number: 9561912
    Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hozumi, Naomi Sugimoto, Yuuji Sawai, Kazuchika Saeki
  • Patent number: 9561913
    Abstract: Disclosed is a conveying device configured to convey food products located on a product support surface along a product conveying direction. The conveying device is adjustable with respect to a stationary base of the apparatus, with an adjustment device being provided for adjusting the conveying device. The adjustment device has a first articulated arm arrangement and a second articulated arm arrangement spaced apart therefrom. The articulated arm arrangements each have a first articulated arm pivotally connected to the base and a second articulated arm pivotally connected to the conveying device, with mutually corresponding articulated arms being pivotable about respective parallel pivot axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: WEBER MASCHINENBAU GMBH BREIDENBACH
    Inventors: Kai-Andre Briel, Ingo Rother
  • Patent number: 9561914
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying electronic devices comprises a track for conveying a plurality of electronic devices in a row towards a pick-up position on the track where the electronic devices are removed by a pick-up device. A guiding portion located over the track has a first restraining mechanism formed in the guiding portion that is operative to restrain and secure a first electronic device at a first position next to the pick-up position and a second restraining mechanism formed in the guiding portion that is operative to restrain and secure a second electronic device at a second position away from the pick-up position which is immediately subsequent to the first position. The first and second electronic devices are configured to be released and conveyed towards the pick-up position when the first and second restraining mechanisms respectively are deactivated. A corresponding method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ASM TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE PTE. LTD
    Inventors: Shing Kai Yip, Yu Sze Cheung, Chi Wah Cheng
  • Patent number: 9561915
    Abstract: A material handling system. The system includes a plurality of material sources for providing material to be transferred and a plurality of destination locations for receiving material from the material sources, wherein each destination location has a destination valve. The system further includes a distribution mechanism, a plurality of source conveying tubes each connecting a source location to an opening on the distribution mechanism, and a plurality of destination conveying tubes each connecting an opening on the distribution mechanism to a destination location. The system further includes a vacuum source operatively connected to each of the destination valves, a vacuum sensor disposed on each of the source conveying tubes configured to sense a change in pressure in the source conveying tube, and a programmable controller connected to each of the vacuum sensors for determining if a correct connection has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: IPEG, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Burteen Kelly, Keith J. Salamony, Douglas E. Brewster, Robert G. Criswell, Jeffrey Bickel, Jeffrey S. Rickert, Steven G. Widdowson
  • Patent number: 9561916
    Abstract: Storage tray for automatically unloading stacks of flat articles stacked on edge, the storage tray having panels and a bottom plate provided with slots through which moving fingers can pass for moving the edges of the flat articles away from or towards the bottom plate and for automatically unloading the flat articles from the storage tray, and for automatically loading the flat articles into the storage tray, the panels defining bearing faces suitable for receiving the flanks of the stacks of flat articles and provided with grooves in register with the ends of the slots so that the moving fingers extend beyond the stack of flat articles into the grooves so as to ensure that all of the flat articles are moved. Also a method of loading and of unloading the storage tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SOLYSTIC
    Inventors: Francois Madar, Bruno Cartal
  • Patent number: 9561917
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a lifting plate, a pickup roller, a lifting and lowering mechanism of the lifting plate and an end cursor. The end cursor has a cursor main body and a turning cursor plate. The turning cursor plate is coupled to the cursor main body turnably around a turning shaft extending in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and slidably along a lifting and lowering direction of the lifting plate. The turning cursor plate is configured to be turned toward the downstream side in the conveying direction around the turning shaft by being pushed up with the lifting of the lifting plate while the turning shaft is moved upward so that the sheet is shifted toward the downstream side along an upper surface of the lifting plate with respect to the lifting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koki Morizono, Masuo Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 9561918
    Abstract: An paper stacker includes a side fence and a lift plate. The side fence extends in a stacking direction and is configured to regulate a position in a width direction of paper. The lift plate is capable of moving the paper to a paper feed point. The side fence includes a main body, a swell segment swelling from the main body toward an edge of the paper below the paper feed point, and an urging segment including an urging surface portion above the swell segment. The urging surface portion is capable of moving toward the edge of the paper to urge the edge of the paper at the paper feed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9561919
    Abstract: In a paper feeding cassette storing stacked sheets, a rotary lever adapted to rotate vertically about a rotation fulcrum is provided with a lift-up portion for lifting up the sheets as placed in contact with a bottom of the sheets stored in the paper feeding cassette. The lift-up portion is vertically turned by the rotary lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shinji Yanase, Takahiko Ushiroji, Dong Zhang, Yoshitada Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9561920
    Abstract: Printing devices include (and printing methods use) among other components, a processor, a printing engine operatively connected to the processor, a media supply tray operatively connected to the processor, etc. The media supply tray supplies sheets of media to the printing engine. The media supply tray has a light visible from the exterior of the printer. The processor controls the light to display different colors indicating different media loading conditions of the media supply tray. The different loading conditions can include a tray in use condition (indicated by the light displaying a first color); tray scheduled for use condition (indicated by the light displaying a second color); tray not in use condition (indicated by the light displaying a third color); tray empty condition, indicated by the light displaying a fourth color; etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilsher, Sebastian R. de Echaniz, Paul S. Golding, Benjamin T. Thurnell
  • Patent number: 9561921
    Abstract: An attachably/detachably sheet feeding unit includes a main body part, a pair of side cursors, a pair of cursor racks, a pinion and a holding member. On the main body part having a bottom plate, a sheet is placed. The side cursors are supported by the bottom plate to slide in a width direction of the sheet to restrict a position of the sheet in the width direction. The cursor racks respectively extend from the side cursors in opposing directions in the width direction. The pinion is engaged with the cursor racks. The holding member has a shaft support part rotatably supporting the pinion, is attachable/detachable to/from the bottom plate, and then, is supported to the bottom plate to move in the width direction while the pinion is engaged with the cursor racks, and is fixed to the bottom plate in an optional position in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takai
  • Patent number: 9561922
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus capable of performing sheet feeding by electrostatic adsorption at a low noise with a simple configuration. A first outer nip conveying roller 201b and a second outer nip conveying roller 202b that nip an adsorbing member 200 supported in a state an inside is loose by a first inner nip conveying roller 201a and a second inner nip conveying roller 202b are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hiratsuka, Takaaki Aoyagi, Takeshi Aoyama, Yasumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9561923
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet conveying path, a first conveying member, a first guide portion, a second guide portion, a registration roller pair, a third guide portion, and a guide member. A posture of the guide member is changeable between a first posture in which an upstream guide portion retracts from the sheet conveying path into a groove portion of the second guide portion, and a downstream guide portion projects to the sheet conveying path from the groove portion; and a second posture in which the downstream guide portion retracts from the sheet conveying path into the groove portion, and the upstream guide portion projects to the sheet conveying path from the groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Eiji Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 9561924
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a first clutch and a second clutch. The first clutch transmits rotation of the driving unit in a first rotation direction to the first feeding device without transmitting rotation of the driving unit in a second rotation direction that is reverse to the first rotation direction to the first feeding device. The second clutch transmits the rotation of the driving unit in the second rotation direction to the conveyance device and the double-side printing conveyance device and without transmitting the rotation of the driving unit in the first rotation direction to the conveyance device and the double-side printing conveyance device. The third transmission path is configured to transmit the rotation of the driving unit to a conveyance device. The fourth transmission path is configured to transmit the rotation of the driving unit to a double-side printing conveyance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Azeta, Toshiyuki Watanabe, Kazuhiro Hosohara
  • Patent number: 9561925
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a main chassis having a discharge tray and a switchback tray in an upper position with respect to the discharge tray; an image forming unit; a discharge roller to discharge a recording sheet conveyed through the image forming unit onto the discharge tray; a duplex conveyer to invert the sheet and convey the inverted sheet to return to the image forming unit; and a switchback roller being rotatable in a normal direction to convey the sheet toward the switchback tray and a reverse direction to convey the sheet to the duplex conveyer; is provided. The main chassis includes a pair of walls, each of which extends in a vertical direction and in a conveying direction of the sheet and is arranged in adjacent to the switchback tray such that the switchback tray is interposed between the pair of walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9561926
    Abstract: Sheet media jams are detected along a media transport path by one or more vibration sensors that capture mechanical movements of components along the path that interact with the sheet media for driving or guiding the sheet media along the transport path. The detected vibrations during the advancing of the sheets are analyzed for distinguishing between detected vibrations associated with normal handling of the sheets and detected vibrations associated with abnormal handling of the sheets. An error condition can be signaled to a control system in response to distinguishing the detected vibrations associated with the abnormal handling of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KODAK ALARIS INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Middleton, Bruce A. Link, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 9561927
    Abstract: A sheet discharging device includes a shift tray 202 on which a sheet P1 is stacked, a discharging roller 6 that discharges a sheet P2 onto the shift tray 202, a blowing device 230 that sends air to a lower surface of the sheet P2 discharged by the discharging roller 6, a blocking member 231 that blocks air sent to the lower surface of the sheet P2 from a blowing port 230-2 of the blowing device 230, and a control unit that controls the blocking amount of the blocking member 231. The blocking amount is determined based upon sheet information including sheet-type information, sheet-size information, and sheet-thickness information, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomomichi Hoshino, Masahiro Tamura, Shuuya Nagasako, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Keisuke Sugiyama, Kyosuke Nakada, Kazuya Yamamoto, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Junya Suzuki, Kazunori Konno, Youhei Niitsuma, Takamasa Matsumoto, Kiichiro Goto, Kazuhiko Kitano, Takashi Fukumoto, Yasuo Niikura, Satoru Takano, Hidetoshi Kojima, Kei Sasaki, Yasushi Tsuruoka, Shintaro Matsumoto, Ryo Takahashi, Yuuta Mori, Kohjiroh Haga
  • Patent number: 9561928
    Abstract: A banknote temporary storage unit of a banknote processing device includes a box body, and further includes a controllable telescopic rod having one end configured to be fixed at a transaction port of the banknote processing device and a telescopic end articulated to the box body. The box body is slidably arranged at the transaction port, and in the case that the controllable telescopic rod is at a terminal of a telescoping stroke of the controllable telescopic rod, the box body is located outside the transaction port, and a banknote dispensing space in the box body is in a visible area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GRG Huitong Financial Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Panfeng Luo, Gaofeng Du, Yang Chang, Chaoyang Xu, Jianzheng Yang, Qunwei Ning
  • Patent number: 9561929
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fibrous core comprising a fluted layer; and a liner disposed on the fluted layer. The fluted layer and the liner are helically wound defining a longitudinal core axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andre Mellin, Stephen Scott D'Souza, John Ferney McKibben
  • Patent number: 9561930
    Abstract: The invention concerns a devise being a flat lattice frame for holding string lights, such as Christmas lights, for tangle free storage designed to fit in a standard file storage box. It is designed in a manner for easy use, helps to minimize the required storage space and to approximately match the interior of a standard file box to provide vertical support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Kurt Gordon Gremley
  • Patent number: 9561931
    Abstract: A call-giving device for giving an elevator call for an elevator includes a touch-sensitive display having at least one touch detection area. The call-giving device is configured to: detect a first gesture performed in the at least one touch detection area; register a call to a floor according to a floor marking in response to detecting a touch meeting call-giving criterion on the touch-sensitive display at a point corresponding to the floor marking; and present, on the touch-sensitive display, registration data associated with the registered call, the registration data indicative of registered floor calls that have not yet been served by the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tuukka Kauppinen, Johannes De Jong, Harri Länsiö, Santeri Suoranta