Patents Issued in November 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9809365
    Abstract: To provide a water-soluble film having excellent solubility, a packaging bag using the water-soluble film, a content release body using the water-soluble film, and a method for producing a water-soluble film. It is a water-soluble film prepared by film-forming a raw material containing a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin and a bisulfite. A bisulfite is added to the raw material containing the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin. Owing to this, the decrease in solubility of the water-soluble film is suppressed even though the raw material is maintained in a heating state for a predetermined time. This effect is the effect characteristic in a bisulfite, and is the effect that is not obtained in the case where a sulfite is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: AICELLO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Yonezawa, Yuki Yasui
  • Patent number: 9809366
    Abstract: Stackable trays for jugs, stacked arrangements and stacking methods are disclosed. A tray has a first surface to support a bottom of one or more jugs, and could include jug receiving cells. A collar could extend downwardly from a second surface opposite the first surface and have at least one notch sized to receive a portion of a handle of a respective jug located beneath each jug receiving cell. Load transfer to the handles of the jugs below the second surface could be provided by load transfer structures, such as the collars in one embodiment, which extend from the second surface to engage the jugs. A stacked arrangement includes multiple layers of jugs with a respective stackable tray between adjacent layers of the multiple layers. The trays could thus be used in stacking or otherwise arranging jugs in multiple layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PARMALAT CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Sidney Scott Prince, Lee Scott Hoover, Antonino Cugliari
  • Patent number: 9809367
    Abstract: A package for a particulate laundry scent additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Natalie Vitalia Lopez, Adrian Keith McKinney, Richard Horstman, Kristin Marie Finley, Karen Hussong Strader
  • Patent number: 9809368
    Abstract: A resealable blister package is described that includes a receiving member and a peelable lidding member. The receiving member has a cavity that can hold items, such as consumer products, and the peelable lidding member can be attached to a peripheral portion of the receiving member to seal the items within the cavity. The peelable lidding member includes a first film layer and a second film layer that are laminated via an adhesive layer. The blister package is designed to be opened to provide access to the cavity and the items therein by peeling the peelable lidding member away from the receiving member. The peelable lidding member can be resealed to the receiving member by bringing the lidding member back into contact with exposed portions of the adhesive layer remaining on the peripheral portion of the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Scott William Huffer
  • Patent number: 9809369
    Abstract: An apparatus for material storage, transport and dispensation uses a bag constructed from one of more flexible plastic sheets and forming a chamber for holding material. Reinforced end regions of the bag may be removably coupled to one another to form a self-forming loop. A nozzle is coupled to the chamber by a flexible tube to form an attachment for dispensation of material from the chamber. The attachment may take the form of a shower head, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Scott E. Andochick
  • Patent number: 9809370
    Abstract: A barrier spout having a base flange and an upstand portion. The base flange has a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer surface. The upstand portion has a proximal end extending from the base flange terminating at a distal end. An upper opening is defined at the distal end, and a lower opening is defined at the proximal end. The base flange and the upstand portion each comprise a three layer co-molded configuration including an outer layer, an inner layer and a central layer. The central layer has an oxygen transmission rate that is less than an oxygen transmission rate of either of the outer layer and the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Scholle IPN Corporation
    Inventors: David Bellmore, Gail Becke, Chris Murray, Andrew Crick
  • Patent number: 9809371
    Abstract: A consumable product package assembly includes at least one consumable product and a package for enclosing the at least one product. The package includes an elongate body portion surrounding the product and a longitudinal seal extending at least partially along the length of the body portion. The seal has a pair of longitudinally spaced notches extending transversely to the distal edge of the seal. The notches define a grasping tab therebetween to initiate tearing of the body portion of the package transversely about the product. The body portion further includes at least one score location extending between the notches to weaken the package thereat to facilitate controlled tearing of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC
    Inventors: Paul Veternik, Marcela Maia Lopez, Anderson Silva
  • Patent number: 9809372
    Abstract: Provided herein is a humidity control insert for packages such as cigarette packs. The humidity control insert comprises a porous nonwoven fibrous substrate and a hygroscopic powder material dispersed within the porous nonwoven fibrous substrate. Further provided is a package, such as a cigarette pack, comprising the humidity control insert, wherein the humidity control insert is adapted to release moisture retained therein into an internal air space of the cigarette pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Products
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, Lisa Brown, Frank Kelley St. Charles, Ercilia B. Hernandez Garcia, Pankaj C. Patel, Craig T. Demarest, Daniel V. Cantrell
  • Patent number: 9809373
    Abstract: A container for a single serving of ready-to-eat food includes opposing side walls, an open top and a cup integral with at least one of the side walls and protruding into the interior of the container. The cup is used to dispense a condiment to accompany the food. The cup includes at least one first cup wall that is configured to fold against the at least one side wall to dispose the cup in a closed position, and to unfold to open the cup into the interior of the container. The cup is urged towards the open and closed position by an overcenter mode of operation whereby partially opening or closing the cup initially encounters resistance, which causes connected container walls to bow; continued opening or closing past the overcenter point allows container walls to flatten, thereby urging the cup towards the open or shut position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: GALLIGREEN CORPORATION, GALLIMORE PRODUCTS (USA) INC.
    Inventor: Gamila Gallimore
  • Patent number: 9809374
    Abstract: A removable container for powder or liquid includes a housing, a spilling mechanism and a bypass element. The housing hangs within a bottle and is capable of storing powder within the bottle while being sealed from a precursor liquid held within the bottle. The spilling mechanism enables the powder to spill out of the housing and into the precursor liquid and the bypass element provides the precursor liquid out of the bottle without mixing with the stored powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Ariel Leibovitch
  • Patent number: 9809375
    Abstract: A stackable microwave covers including a first food cover that includes a top wall for supporting a first food item and having a particular shape that has a first area, one or more side walls slanted at an outward angle from beneath the top wall, wherein a top of the one or more side walls defines a second area that is smaller than the first area, wherein a bottom edge of the one or more side walls defines a substantially similar shape to the particular shape of the top wall and has a third area greater than the second area and less than the first area, and wherein the top wall and the one or more side walls form a first cavity for positioning a second food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Judith Marie Anderson
  • Patent number: 9809376
    Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container assembly has a generally box-shaped form like a school lunch box, having a main body and a lid. The lid is formed of one of the largest panels of the box-structure, and is joined to the main body of the box by a hinge that lets the lid lie flat next to the main body when the box is open. The inside face of the lid then defines a work surface on which to place objects such as foodstuffs and beverages. The work surface may be formed in a substantially rigid molded stiffener member, and may be divided into sub-regions with raised retainers to discourage sliding of objects where not precisely level. The container assembly may include a rigid internal liner with which the lid may mate zipperlessly. The mating portion of the lid may be formed in the same rigid member as the work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: California Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Mitchell, Mike Baatz, William Kearns, Christopher Edwards, Melvin Mogil, Richard Stephens, Alexander Barattin, Jingchao Wu
  • Patent number: 9809377
    Abstract: A package for compartmentalized preservation of harvested fruit or vegetables and methods are disclosed. The package may include a first flexible polymer film, comprising integral molded or vacuum formed cups configured to hold a fruit or vegetable, wherein the integral molded or vacuum formed cups can be collapsed into a plane of the first polymer film or extended from the first polymer film; and a second flexible polymer film configured to overlay the first polymer film. In some embodiments, the cups containing the fruit or vegetable may be inflated and sealed to form protective bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Quentin Arthur Carl Adam
  • Patent number: 9809378
    Abstract: A packaging system and method that can be used to protect a display device. The packaging system includes a front foam panel, a base foam panel and a back foam panel, and two different types of foam for the panels. The base foam panel supports the weight of the display device and absorbs vibrations. The front foam panel protects the screen of the display device by spreading loads over a wider area and reducing the risk of the screen cracking. A back foam panel is made of a lower density foam and supports the display device rear panel in position while taking up the different shapes of the rear panels and allows for variation in thicknesses between different models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Flynn, Ryan Marquardt, Simon Furness, Adrian Cox
  • Patent number: 9809379
    Abstract: A cartridge for preparing a beverage comprises a container, a pod for containing a substance from which a beverage is to be extracted, a separating element for protecting the pod, and one or more supporting elements for holding the separating element in a preferred position. The cartridge is of the type which is pierced by at least one piercing tool to allow the injection of a liquid and extraction of a beverage. The separating element comprises a platform upon which the pod is disposed. The platform forms a boundary within the container, thereby defining first and second portions of the container. Liquid is injected into the first portion of the container, and the beverage is removed from the second portion. The separating element is positioned an appropriate distance from the piercing tools by the supporting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: 1675119 Ontario Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Goncalves Cardoso
  • Patent number: 9809380
    Abstract: Vessel assemblies, heat transfer units for prefabricated vessels, and methods for heat transfer prefabricated vessel are provided. A heat transfer unit includes a central rod, and a plurality of peripheral rods surrounding the central rod and connected to the central rod. The plurality of peripheral rods are movable between a first collapsed position and a second bowed position, wherein in the second bowed position a midpoint of each of the plurality of peripheral rods is spaced from the central rod relative to in the first position. The heat transfer unit further includes a heat transfer element connected to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Tamburello, Matthew R. Kesterson, Bruce J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 9809381
    Abstract: An apparatus for the transport and storage of proppant has a container with a top wall, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls. The pair of side walls extend between the pair of end walls. The container has a bottom discharge opening. The container includes a funnel extending from the pair of side walls and from the pair of and walls toward the bottom discharge opening. The funnel has sides extending in an angle of greater than 25° with respect to horizontal. The funnel includes a pair of side plates extending respectively from the pair of side walls toward the bottom discharge opening and a pair of end plates extending respectively from the pair of end walls toward the bottom discharge opening. Each of the side plates and the end plates is formed of a stainless steel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OREN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Oren, Joshua Oren
  • Patent number: 9809382
    Abstract: A slide valve for a powdered material or a material with a small grain size. The valve comprises a stiff frame, which defines a discharge mouth to discharge the material, and a shutter of the discharge mouth, which is activated by respective moving organs. The valve is characterized in that it comprises a height adjusting device for a sealing element. The height adjusting device is suited to compensate the loss of sealing effect between the lower face of the sealing element and an upper surface of the shutter. The loss of sealing power is due to the wear generated by the relative friction between the lower face and the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: WAMGROUP S.P.A.
    Inventor: Vainer Marchesini
  • Patent number: 9809383
    Abstract: A track and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of the refuse vehicle. The track member has a desired length extending transverse to the ground. At least one guide member is mounted on a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to prohibit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventor: Richard Ford
  • Patent number: 9809384
    Abstract: An inventory system can include multiple floors. The system can assign operations involving inventory items to a floor based on information about the floor, other floors, the operations, and/or the inventory items. In one example, the system may assign an order to be assembled on a floor based on the floor containing items for the order. Items may be moved to the floor from other floors to complete the order. In another example, a receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating inventory items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to a floor based on information known about the inventory items matching criteria about the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
  • Patent number: 9809385
    Abstract: A modular chute system for providing safe convenient access to an inside cavity of the chute system from a variety of locations to enhance safer serviceability features a chute channel formed from a plurality of chute sections. Each chute section is formed from a plurality of rigid structural panels. An edge flange is disposed on each panel edge encompassing an entire panel outer periphery, and the edge flange of one panel is connected to the edge flange of another structural panel. Upon removal of a structural panel or set of adjacent structural panels, the chute channel is self-supporting and non-collapsing. Chute serviceability, such as replacement of interior liners or panels, can be accomplished by removing panels and replacing liners without entering the chute cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: John Peter Van Bogaert
  • Patent number: 9809386
    Abstract: An ore chute system, comprising: a chute box for collecting material and having a chute opening formed therein for discharging the material therethrough; a chute press gate mounted over the chute opening and moveable between an opened position to allow discharge of the material from the chute box and a closed position to prevent discharge of the material from the chute box; a chute press gate actuator coupled to the chute press gate and controllable to move the chute press gate between the opened position and the closed position; and, a chute press gate counterweight system coupled to the chute press gate and configured to move the chute press gate from the opened position to the closed position upon failure of the chute press gate actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NORDIC MINESTEEL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Paul Elliott, Bryan Jay Keslo
  • Patent number: 9809387
    Abstract: An anti-sticking conveyor belt of a frying machine includes a first transmission axle and a second transmission axle oppositely disposed, two chains, a plurality of connecting rods and a plurality of conveyor strips. Each conveyor strips is made of a high temperature resistant and anti-sticking material, and includes a conveyor belt surface for conveying fried products, a conveyor lower surface away from each conveyor belt surface, and a channel provided outwards between each conveyor belt surface and each conveyor lower surface. As each conveyor belt surface is greater than each conveyor lower surface and with cooperation of the chains, leveled progressing of the conveyor strips is maintained. At arched positions of the first transmission axle and the second transmission axle, the conveyor lower surfaces do not come into contact with one another, and the conveyor belt surfaces arranged are small to obtain an even and flat conveying plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Chuan Yang Foods Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mu-Lin Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9809388
    Abstract: A method of operating a cross belt slat sorter includes moving a first item of a first type positioned on the sorter. A database is maintained that stores transport requirements for different item types. A control system ascertains a first type of the first item via a separate vision system that is operatively connected to the control system. The database is accessed to establish the first transport requirements for the first item based on the first type. Belts are controlled based on the first transport requirements of the first item. A second item is moved on the belts, and a second type of the second item is observed with the vision system. The database is accessed to ascertain second transport requirements for the second item. The belts are controlled based on the second transport requirements of the second item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bastian Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: William A. Bastian, II, Garrett Clark, Eric C. Halvorson, II
  • Patent number: 9809389
    Abstract: A force measuring unit for measuring a force applied to an individual chain link of a chain strand is used in underground mining applications. The force measuring unit may include a housing having a first end configured to be contacted by a first chain link leg and a second end configured to be contacted by a second chain link leg, and a distance measuring device accommodated within the housing and configured to measure an actual distance between the first chain link leg and the second chain link leg. The distance measuring device may include a first unit part configured to be contacted by the first chain link leg and a second unit part configured to be contacted by the second chain link leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Pauli, Detlef Hahn, Stefan Kratochvil, Christian Hauck, Mirko Skowron, Marco Ahler, Dominik Bittner, Manfred Ziegler
  • Patent number: 9809390
    Abstract: An integrated granular-material scoop and near-vertical lifting feeder/conveyor includes special connections and skirts between a bullnose rotating scoop and an open-helical screw that provides the rotations and material lift and evacuation. A conical working-face of the bullnose rotating scoop has symmetrically distributed graters and vents to break loose and force-in granular material from natural deposits and cargo holds. The bullnose rotating scoop and the open-helical screw its attached to move the material into a continuous layer on the inside surface of an outer stationary sheathing. A motor drive attached to the open-helical screw above at the delivery end provides the lifting force necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventors: Otis Walton, Hubert J. Vollmer
  • Patent number: 9809391
    Abstract: In a method for conveying laden or unladen load carriers, the load carriers are conveyed by a first conveying system and a second conveying system which differ from one another in conveying terms. At least one load carrier is picked up and conveyed, at least temporarily, by in each case one conveying device of the first conveying system independently of the second conveying system. The second conveying system at least temporarily conveys a conveying device or an assembly which is formed by a conveying device and at least one load carrier brought together with the latter. A unit for this purpose is also specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: EISENMANN SE
    Inventors: Ralf Weiland, Klaus Gawelczyk
  • Patent number: 9809392
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting containers in a container treatment system which has a first container treatment unit for a process step and a second container treatment unit for the process step, the transport device having at least one receiving point for the containers, at least one delivery point for the containers, a transport track which connects the at least one receiving point, the at least one delivery point, the first container treatment unit, and the second container treatment unit, and at least one transport element for transporting a container, the transport element being movably arranged on the transport track. The transport track and the at least one transport element are designed such that the at least one transport element can be guided from a receiving point to a delivery point in an individually controllable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Ralf Walter, Konrad Senn
  • Patent number: 9809393
    Abstract: A conveyor for a mining system. The conveyor includes a sprocket, a chain, a drive mechanism, a hydraulic cylinder, and a controller. The chain is associated with the sprocket and has a top chain portion and a bottom chain portion. The drive mechanism is coupled to the sprocket and is operable to drive the sprocket. The controller includes a processing unit and a memory. The controller is configured to receive a first signal related to a characteristic of the drive mechanism, receive a second signal related to a reaction force of the sprocket, calculate a tension of the top chain portion based on the first signal and the second signal, and generate a control signal for controlling a position of the hydraulic cylinder based on the determined tension of the top chain portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth Rimmington
  • Patent number: 9809394
    Abstract: A return stop device with a freewheel having an internal ring, an external ring, and retaining elements arranged in an annular gap therebetween. A flange is provided at the attachment side and a housing part, between which the external ring is clamped, and a clamping device by which the external ring is pressed with its face between the flange and the housing part against a friction area, in order to generate a friction-fitting connection between the flange and the external ring. A release device is provided to at least partially overcome the contact pressure, in order to reduce or remove the friction-fitting connection. The release device includes an actuating organ, which acts upon a first gliding element, displaceable in an operating direction, to act upon a second gliding element, arranged displaceable perpendicular to the operating direction, that acts via a second wedge against the contact pressure upon the housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: RINGSPANN GmbH
    Inventor: Karlheinz Timtner
  • Patent number: 9809395
    Abstract: A method for controlling a material flow system, wherein the material flow system includes vehicles for transporting goods packages, wherein the vehicles communicate autonomously among one another in the material flow system, wherein the vehicles move by movement steps along a material flow path from a starting node to a target node, and wherein a logical clock is associated with each node. The method includes providing each movement step of a first vehicle with a time stamp, carrying out movement steps such that for the first vehicle, successive movement steps assume monotonically increasing values for the time stamp, and for each node that is traversed, providing an outgoing movement step of the first vehicle with value of a time stamp which is less than or equal to a value of a time stamp for a subsequently incoming movement step of a second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Karlsruher Institut fuer Technologie
    Inventors: Zaezilia Seibold, Kai Furmans, Marco Gebhardt, Thomas Stoll
  • Patent number: 9809396
    Abstract: A method for separating containers in a densely packed container flow from each other so that they are spaced by a defined distance includes using a compartment star to place the containers on a rearrangement portion and then sweeping the containers forward using catch elements that move along the rearrangement portion so that they arrive at an inlet star with a separation that enables them to be picked up by a waiting inlet-star receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Joehren, Thomas Nitsch
  • Patent number: 9809398
    Abstract: An end effector for the packaging industry comprises has a frame, a bridge on top of the frame, a rack and pinion assembly, actuation rods, carrier assemblies, and vacuum ports. The rack and pinion assembly is configured to be operatively connected to a robot's rotatable shaft, and to the actuation rods. The actuation rods are fixedly connected to one or more of the carrier assemblies. As the robot's shaft rotates, the rack and pinion assembly is actuated, which actuates the actuation rods, which causes the carrier assemblies fixedly connected to the actuation rods to move longitudinally along the frame. Each carrier assembly includes a carrier block and at least one pick-up member. Each carrier block has at least one arm with a grabber to cooperate with an adjacent arm with grabbers of an adjacent carrier block(s) of the same subgroup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PROPACK PROCESSING AND PACKAGING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin George Crosby
  • Patent number: 9809399
    Abstract: An air-driven container twisting system is configured for changing orientation of containers moving through a material-handling system. The air-driven container twisting system may include a container guide that extends through an air drive arrangement with the container guide configured to direct containers longitudinally while simultaneously rotating the containers while moving through the air-driven container twisting system without the need of declining elevation change and gravity assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Arrowhead Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary Lindauer, David M. Walters, Michael S. Clark
  • Patent number: 9809400
    Abstract: A method for the partial emptying of buoyant objects, which are stored in a loading aid having at least one opening is provided. A processing weight to be partially emptied is established. A fill weight is determined of the objects in the loading aid via a first weighing. The loading aid is at least partially immersed in a liquid bath. The loading aid is positioned or moved for a retention time predefined as a function of the fill weight and of the processing weight in the bath such that there is an on-average constant flow relative to the loading aid and such that the opening is disposed at least partially below a fill level surface of the bath, whereby the objects are taken along by the flow. The at least partially emptied loading aid is lifted out of the bath after the retention time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LTW Intralogistics GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Eberle, Urs Gerber, Christian Baldauf, Thomas Tumler
  • Patent number: 9809401
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the lateral overlapping of portions which are transported in a longitudinal direction and which each comprise at least one slice cut off from a food product, having at least one overlapping unit which comprises a belt conveyor having at least two tracks, wherein an upper track and a lower track are deflected at the incoming side about a common input axle and at the outgoing side about two output axles disposed at different height levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TEXTOR MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Mayer, Wilfried Maier, Jörg Schmeiser
  • Patent number: 9809402
    Abstract: A bin sweep system for a bin having a floor surface and a central well may comprise a center post defining a common center and a sweep assembly configured to move across the floor surface of the bin and having an inboard end and an outboard end. The sweep assembly may comprise at least two sweep segments including a first sweep segment and a second sweep segment, with the first sweep segment being located toward the inboard end and the second sweep segment being located toward the outboard end. At least one of the sweep segments may be movable about the center post substantially independently of another of the sweep segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sioux Steel Company
    Inventors: Chris Nelson, William A. Witt
  • Patent number: 9809403
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a container including a frame, an auxiliary frame member provided on the frame so as to be slidable relative to the frame, and a front cover that covers a front side of the auxiliary frame member, the container being detachably supported in a body of the sheet feeding device; a cover member that covers a top side of the container when the container is attached to the body; and a locking unit that prevents the container attached to the body from being detached from the body when the container is locked and that enables the container to be detached from the body when the container is not locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Yaginuma, Tsutomu Somemiya, Takashi Abe
  • Patent number: 9809404
    Abstract: An apparatus (un-interleaver) for unwinding a roll of material interleaved with another material, and for separating the materials, includes a first platform, a second platform, a tension-sensor, an edge-sensor, and a controller. The controller monitors signals generated by the tension-sensor and the edge-sensor, and in response to the signals: a) causes the speed at which the second platform rotates to change to maintain a predetermined tension in the second material as the second material travels from the first platform toward the second platform, and b) causes the second platform to move relative to the first platform to align the edge of the second material traveling toward the roll of second material with the edge of the second material in the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Dart Container Corporation
    Inventors: Krishna V. Nadella, Alan Emerson
  • Patent number: 9809405
    Abstract: Provided is a paper feeding roller in which recesses due to deformation are unlikely to be formed even when contact with another roller in one location continues for a comparatively long period of time, particularly as a conveying roller or the like. A paper feeding roller that has a shaft measuring 6 mm in exterior diameter pressure-welded to the outer circumferential surface under a load of 600 g in a high-temperature environment of 60° C. for 24 hours is left at room temperature for eight hours while being pressure-welded, after which the recess amount obtained using the difference (T)0?T1, between the thickness T1 (mm) of the position where the shaft was pressure-welded and the thickness T0 (mm) of a position where the shaft was not pressure-welded, is 0.1 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Hamakubo, Akihiro Mine
  • Patent number: 9809406
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device has a pair of upper discharge rollers including a first discharge roller and a first following roller, a second discharge tray, a corrugation member, and a moving mechanism. The first discharge roller is rotatable in forward and reverse directions. The corrugation member corrugates the sheet by making contact with its sheet face. The moving mechanism moves the corrugation member between a first position, where it makes contact with the sheet face of the sheet, and a second position, where it is located above, away from, the nip portion of the pair of upper discharge rollers. An image forming apparatus incorporates such a sheet conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuzo Onishi
  • Patent number: 9809407
    Abstract: A reception apparatus that receives an article discharged from a processing apparatus includes a first rod, a second rod, a reception sheet and two side rods. The reception sheet has flexibility, is supported by the first rod and the second rod and receives the article between the first rod and the second rod. The two side rods can rotate, extend and contract independently from each other with respect to the processing apparatus while respectively supporting both end portions of the second rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daiki Anayama, Yasuyuki Asai, Hiromasa Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 9809408
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of discharging even a lateral displacement uncorrectable sheet onto a discharge tray without collision with an alignment plate. A finisher conveys a sheet along a conveying path. A shift unit corrects a lateral displacement of the sheet based on a result of detection by a lateral displacement detection sensor. Sheets discharged via the conveying path are stacked on a discharge tray. A pair of alignment plates disposed above the stacking tray are lowered and are moved between a standby position and an alignment position to be brought into abutment with respective opposite edges of the discharged sheet in the alignment position. A finisher controller makes a distance between the alignment plates in a standby position different according to a sheet type, even when a size of the sheet in the width direction is the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Maenishi, Mitsuhiko Sato, Takashi Yokoya, Yutaka Ando, Akihiro Arai
  • Patent number: 9809409
    Abstract: A printing system adapted to supply printed materials from a printing apparatus to a first stacking unit of a first sheet processing apparatus and a second stacking unit of a second sheet processing apparatus is provided. The system includes a receiver and controller, the receiver receiving via a user interface unit a specified instruction allowing the printing system to perform a first type operation that both the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit can be used in printing a job to be processed, the controller causing the printing apparatus to perform the first type operation wherein the specified instruction is received, and the controller causing the printing apparatus to perform a second type operation wherein the specified instruction is not received, the second type operation wherein one of the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit can be used in printing a job to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko Tominaga, Yuuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9809410
    Abstract: A paper outputting mechanism includes a frame, a motor mounted to the frame, a paper supply tray assembly, a gear assembly, a paper pressing element, a blocking element and a plurality of elastic elements. A rear of the frame has a receiving room, a front of the frame has a slope connected with the receiving room. The paper supply tray assembly includes a first paper supply tray slidably mounted to the frame and a second paper supply tray placed on the first paper supply tray. A gear assembly is driven by the motor, the gear assembly drives the first and second paper supply tray to move frontward and rearward. The paper pressing element is up and down movably mounted to the frame and located over the slope. The blocking element is front and down slidably mounted to the frame and in front of the paper pressing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan Cheng Huang, Yung Kai Chen
  • Patent number: 9809411
    Abstract: A tape dispenser system includes a monolithic plastic injection molded frame with an integral anti-reverse rotation pawl. To help prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly bonding onto the coiled portion of the tape, the pawl engages the inner diameter of a cardboard spool that holds the roll of tape. Strategically located mold parting lines and certain air gaps allow injection molding of a dispenser frame that has two spool-supporting sidewalls plus the integral pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventors: Larry E. Tiedemann, Robert J. Harter
  • Patent number: 9809412
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus having two-folding rollers each of whose outer diameter gradually decreases from the central part to each end part, a folding plate which can move forward to or backward from a nip between the two-folding rollers, and has a cutout part located at an edge part of the folding plate facing the nip between central parts of the two-folding rollers, wherein the cutout part does not reach the nip between the central parts of the two-folding rollers when the sheets are folded, and a folding plate support member which is placed at a position facing the nip between the central parts of the two-folding rollers, and can slide in a direction of moving closer to or away from the nip, wherein the folding plate support member projects from the cutout part when the sheets are set, and does not reach the nip when the sheets are folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiichi Shirasaki
  • Patent number: 9809413
    Abstract: A winding device for winding a strand like winding material is disclosed. The winding device includes a winding disk onto which the strand like winding material is wound, and a housing being arranged adjacently to the winding disk. The winding disk is prevented from moving, for example, from twisting, by at least one magnetic holding device. The magnetic holding device has a first magnetic arrangement, which is connected torque proof to the housing, and a second magnetic arrangement, which is connected torque proof to the winding disk, each magnetic arrangement having a north pole N and a south pole S. Between the first and second magnetic arrangements there is a gap. The first and second magnetic arrangements are magnetically coupled across the gap, wherein the strand shaped winding material is guided through the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hubert Reinisch
  • Patent number: 9809414
    Abstract: A series of elastic break brakes are provided throughout a travel path of elastics in a machine operation. Elastic strands thread through each individual brake mechanism, and if an elastic strand breaks downstream, a natural snap back of the elastic, which ordinarily travels through the system under tension, drives an immediately upstream cam mechanism back, and holds the elastic thread in place at the elastic break brake immediately upstream of the break as to minimize rethreading required downstream of the elastic break brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff W Fritz, Chris Nelson, John A McCabe, Daniel A Peterson
  • Patent number: 9809415
    Abstract: A mounting assembly is provided for mounting a sheave roller to a ladder-type cable tray. The cable cables can be laid on the cable tray for routing through a building. The mounting assembly includes first and second housing parts which are moveable relative to each other. The housing parts are attached to respective rungs of the cable tray. A lock prevents the relative movement of the housing parts relative to each other once the mounting assembly is engaged with the cable tray. The sheave roller is rotatably attached to the one housing part. This quickly and easily installs the sheave roller on the cable tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Damon Joseph Henderson, Corey Britton Dir