Patents Issued in April 3, 2018
  • Patent number: 9932177
    Abstract: A method of tensioning a conveyor element of a conveyor. The method includes generating, with a proximity sensor, an output signal indicative of the conveyor element being under-tensioned, receiving the output signal from the proximity sensor, and activating a solenoid-controlled valve to an open state in response to receiving the output signal from the proximity sensor. The method also includes driving, with a pump, a piston of a cylinder while the solenoid-controlled valve is in the open state, pushing, with the cylinder, a take-up bar including a second portion of a ratcheting mechanism to engage with a first portion of the ratcheting mechanism of a locking plate, and imparting, via the locking plate, a locking force on the take-up bar. The method further includes overcoming the locking force and moving the shaft of the conveyor away from a centerline of the conveyor with the take-up bar when the locking force is overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Watson, William L. Harney
  • Patent number: 9932178
    Abstract: A grain handling conveyor includes an axle tilt device that is coupled to a frame supporting a grain handling conveyor and to an axle thereof. The axle tilt device is capable of raising or lowering one end of the axle with respect to the frame and to permit the tilting the frame and causing movement of the discharge end of the conveyor for accurate conveying of bulk material into a silo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Derek W. Allensworth, Gary Lantz, James D. Lascelles
  • Patent number: 9932179
    Abstract: A method of transferring items, such as rolled absorbent product. The method includes the steps of feeding one or more input streams of items toward a turret having a longitudinal axis and arms for engaging the items, the arms being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The arms can engage at least one of the items from at least one of the one or more input streams and rotate away from the input streams and into a position aligned with one or more output streams. The number of input streams can be different than the number of output streams. The items can be fed onto the one or more output streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Matthew Bernard Overley, Gustav Andre Mellin, Wesley Bernard Brokopp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9932180
    Abstract: A packaging dispenser, for dispensing stacks of nested trays to a packing device, has a frame, a first conveyor for conveying and supporting a first plurality of stacks of nested trays in a first level, and a second conveyor downstream of the first conveyor for receiving stacks of nested trays from the first conveyor. The packaging dispenser also includes a vertical chute underneath the second conveyor for dispensing stacks of nested trays to a packing device. The second conveyor has a pair of laterally spaced conveyor elements for supporting only lateral edge regions of a stack of nested trays. The laterally spaced conveyor elements are retractable to allow a stack of nested trays, supported thereon, to be released into the chute. The packaging dispenser can further be provided with a tray separator upstream of the chute for loosening individual trays of a stack, while keeping the trays in a stacked and nested arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: JARIK B.V.
    Inventor: Marinus Hendrikus Petrus Wouters
  • Patent number: 9932181
    Abstract: A method of delivering proppant to a well site has the steps of transporting a load of proppant in a vessel to a desired location, moving the load of proppant from the vessel into a container so as to create a proppant-loaded container, unloading the proppant-loaded container into a pneumatic bulk trailer, and transporting the unloaded proppant in the pneumatic bulk trailer to well site. The container is placed onto a bed of a truck and moved in proximity to the vessel. The proppant-loaded container is placed onto a tilting mechanism and then tilted so that the proppant is discharged through a flow gate of a container into a hopper. The proppant in the hopper can then be conveyed to the pneumatic bulk trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OREN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: John Oren
  • Patent number: 9932182
    Abstract: A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels and a hitch, the stabilizing device including a repositionable jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Stabilock LLC
    Inventors: R. Peter Kimener, Thomas Terrence Kimener, Daniel Wahlstrom
  • Patent number: 9932183
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure a system for capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site including a proppant delivery assembly to receive one or more containers having proppant stored therein. The system dispenses the proppant from the one or more containers and delivers the proppant to other fracking operation equipment. Moreover, the system includes a dust collection assembly positioned proximate and associated with the proppant delivery assembly to capture dust particles released by movement and settling of the proppant when being dispensed and delivered by the proppant delivery assembly. The dust collection assembly is positioned to direct an air flow in a flow path overlying the dust particles to capture the dust particles and move the dust particles away from the proppant thereby reducing risk of dust exposure to fracking operation site personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OREN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Oren, Marty Boros, Pete Berveiler, Dave Hansen, Colin Campbell, Mike Edwards, Thomas Massalone
  • Patent number: 9932184
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents are provided. The apparatus includes a feeder for receiving a packet of a plurality of documents and separating the documents to serially feed the documents to a scanner. A retard adjacent the feeder is operable in first and second positions. In the first position the retard forms a nip with the feeder so that the retard is operable to impede the progress of one or more documents in the packet while the feeder feeds one of the documents in the packet. In the second position, the retard is spaced apart from the feeder to form a gap between the feeder and the retard. The system further includes a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the documents in a packet indicative of whether the number of documents in the packet exceeds a predetermined threshold. A drive mechanism automatically drives the retard pad between the first and second positions in response to the detected characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: David Helmlinger, Gary Miller, Peter M. Chezik, Robert R. DeWitt
  • Patent number: 9932185
    Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes a first roll 106, and a second roll 108 arranged vertically below first roll 106, to feed a sheet material clamped between the first roll 106 and the second roll 108. The sheet material feeding apparatus further includes a first motor 102 provided with a rotatable first motor shaft 104 coupled to the first roll 106, and a second motor 103 provided with a rotatable second motor shaft 105 coupled to the second roll 108. The first motor shaft 104 and the second motor shaft 105 rotate at substantially the same rotation speed to allow the first roll 106 and the second roll 108 to rotate in synchronization with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sankyo Seisakusho Co.
    Inventor: Kengo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9932186
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for winding and unwinding web materials, the web materials having a plurality of narrow lanes which form a spool. In a first aspect of the invention each lane of web material is defined by a width measured in the axial direction of the spool and between a minimum and a maximum radial height measured radially from a central axis of the spool. Each lane is wound, in turn, with web material up to the maximum radial height, the web material is folded by a first, second, third and fourth folds so that the web material is realigned parallel to the adjacent lane and wound to form the adjacent lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gueltekin Erdem, Walter Pieter Hendrik Laurentius van der Klugt, Sudhanshu Gupta
  • Patent number: 9932187
    Abstract: A winding device suitable for winding at least one strip on a mandrel. According to one embodiment the winding device includes a pressure assembly configured to press a strip against the surface of the mandrel when winding the strip. The pressure assembly comprises a first pressure unit which is coupled to and rotates together with the mandrel from a first winding position to a second winding position while the first pressure unit presses on the strip. The pressure assembly further comprises a second pressure unit that is attached to the first pressure unit, and that is configured for pressing on the strip when the first pressure unit reaches the second winding position, allowing forward movement of the strip in the winding direction when the mandrel rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: FAGOR, S. COOP.
    Inventors: Imanol Mugica Irastorza, Oscar Gonzalez Mora, Daniel Garcia Chueca
  • Patent number: 9932188
    Abstract: A transportation path changing device (1) of the invention is a transportation path changing device that changes a transportation path of a continuous sheet-like object (3) that is being transported. The device includes: an oscillating section (2) that oscillates in an intersecting direction Y intersecting with a flow direction X of the transported object, and that increases/decreases the length of the transportation path of the transported object (3); a first moving means (6) that is connected to the oscillating section (2), and that moves the oscillating section (2) in the intersecting direction Y; a second moving means (7) that moves a portion or the entirety of the first moving means (6) in the intersecting direction Y; and a control section (9) that controls the first moving means (6) and the second moving means (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Oku, Makoto Kokubo
  • Patent number: 9932189
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: a sheet conveying section configured to convey a long sheet; an image forming/fixing section configured to execute an image forming/fixing operation to form and fix a toner image on the long sheet to be conveyed by the sheet conveying section; a skew detection section configured to detect a skew of the long sheet to be conveyed by the sheet conveying section; a skew correction section configured to execute a skew correction operation to correct the skew of the long sheet; and a control section configured to perform control to execute the skew correction operation when the skew has been detected in a first area where the skew correction operation does not affect the image forming/fixing operation, and perform control to execute the skew correction operation when the skew has been detected in a second area where the skew correction operation affects the image forming/fixing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9932190
    Abstract: A medium winder, includes: a winding roller that winds a medium discharged from an image formation apparatus into a roll shape; first and second rollers that guide the medium to the winding roller; a dancer roller provided between the first and second rollers in the medium conveyance direction and movable upwardly and downwardly while contacting from above the medium between the first and second rollers; a winding driver that rotates the winding roller; a detector that detects the dancer roller; a dancer roller position recognition portion that recognizes the position of the dancer roller based on a detection result by the detector; and a winding drive controller that controls the winding driver. In an operation of unwinding the medium, the winding drive controller moves the dancer roller up and down by reducing or increasing the unwinding velocity of the medium based on a position of the dancer roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Wada
  • Patent number: 9932191
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet post-processing device that has a first tray, outlet rollers, and a control section. The first tray holds sheets for post-processing with respect to the sheets supplied from an image forming device. The outlet rollers discharge the sheet to the first tray. The control section controls a rotational speed of the outlet rollers to be decelerated after a leading end portion of the sheet passes through the outlet rollers and before the leading end portion of the sheet comes into contact with the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiaki Oshiro
  • Patent number: 9932192
    Abstract: In some examples, a media stacker includes a drawer defining a chamber, and a plurality of moving elements to engage media sheets of different sizes as the media sheets are output from a system. The plurality of moving elements are to slide the media sheets to a target position in the drawer, and the plurality of moving elements are to disengage from the media sheets once the media sheets have reached the target position. A plurality of retaining elements are to engage the media sheets of the different sizes as the media sheets slide into the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David Chanclón Fernández, Ricardo Sanchis Estruch, Joan Sanjuán Mercadal, Emilio López Matos, Ignacio De Olazábal Zugasti, Gianni Cessel, Xavier Alonso Becerro
  • Patent number: 9932193
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a reverse transport portion that transports the recording medium in a reverse direction, which is opposite to a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported to the reverse transport portion from the image forming section, a first ejection portion to which the recording medium is ejected and that is disposed on a downstream side of a second transport path in the transport direction, the second transport path diverging from a first transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the reverse transport portion, and a reverse transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the reverse transport portion to the image forming section, the reverse transport path not overlapping a third transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the first ejection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tomioka, Riwako Miyauchi, Kohei Takahashi, Mizuki Arai
  • Patent number: 9932194
    Abstract: A sheet discharge apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet discharged by a discharging portion is stacked, and a control portion configured to control a moving unit such that a height position of an uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion becomes a first height position. In a case where a sheet detection portion detects that the height position of the uppermost sheet is above a second height position, the control portion sets a sheet discharge speed of the discharging portion to a first sheet discharge speed. In a case where the sheet detection portion detects that the height position of the uppermost sheet becomes lower than the second height position, the control portion controls the sheet discharge speed to be a second sheet discharge speed faster than the first sheet discharge speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoto Tokuma
  • Patent number: 9932195
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a belt with a widthwise side portion extending in a traveling direction of the belt, the widthwise side portion including a portion defining a notch being recessed in a width direction orthogonal to the traveling direction, the notch being defined by less than an entire length, in the traveling direction, of the widthwise side portion, a contacting member arranged to be in contact with an end portion of a sheet to be conveyed, the contacting member being attached to the belt so that at least a part of the contacting member is arranged in the notch of the belt, a regulating portion configured to regulate a position of the belt in the width direction by contacting with the widthwise side portion of the belt, and a driving portion configured to drive the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akito Sekigawa
  • Patent number: 9932196
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a tape dispenser which includes a body having a downward facing concave space at a bottom thereof, a cutting blade mounted to the body and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space, a groove member being able to move vertically between a first and second location, at the first location, the groove member being partially submerged in the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade for cutting a piece of tape, at the second location, the groove member being downwardly away from the bottom of the body for threading a piece of tape through a gap formed between the groove member and the bottom of the body, a side plate attached to an end of the groove member, the side plate being slidably accommodated in a hollowed space formed inside the body, the side plate having a slot for retaining a spring to urge the side plate to slide downwardly resulting in the groove member to move from the first location to the second location
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Peigen Jiang
  • Patent number: 9932197
    Abstract: This disclosure describes various aspect of a unique standalone document handler that is coupable to and controllable by a fulfillment. The standalone documents handler is attachable to a standard printer or copier and has a drop chute that is designed to hold groups of fulfillment documents and drop them into a fulfillment receptacle positioned under the document handler. Upper and lower scanners scan document identification codes placed on one or more pages of the fulfillment document, which allows a system controller to control the timing of dispensing the correct documents in the designated fulfillment receptacle at the correct time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cornerstone Automation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Doke, Brandon Lee Roby, Joseph Bradly Woodard
  • Patent number: 9932198
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet processing apparatus with improved visibility of a sheet bundle discharged without post-processing thereto. The CPU circuit receives the conveyed sheet, drives and controls the sheet-returning paddle, the rack part, the rear end regulation part, the alignment plate and the like and forms sheet bundle comprising of a plural number of sheets as received. Further, the CPU circuit drives and controls the alignment plate when discharging the sheet bundle S from the processing tray, the sheet bundle S exceeding the number of sheets which can be post-processed by the stapler. Therefore, the sheet bundle S which includes sheets equal to the allowable number of sheets for post-processing of the sheet processing unit is discharged to the second discharge position which is different from the first discharge position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Hongu
  • Patent number: 9932199
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a plurality of first units and a second unit. The first units each include, as one unit, a pressing member that presses a folding loop, a frame that movably holds the pressing member in a sheet pressing direction, and an elastic member that is disposed between the frame and the pressing member to bias the pressing member in the sheet pressing direction. The second unit supports, as one unit, a plurality of rows of first units such that the first units of each row are arranged, as a pair, so as to be opposed to each other and that an interval between the pairs is reduced stepwise from a downstream side to an upstream side in a moving direction of the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Katsumata, Hisashi Osada, Takeshi Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 9932200
    Abstract: A portable strap dispenser includes a main body. The main body has a first frame and a second frame which are symmetrically disposed. A fixing sleeve is provided at the joint of the first frame and the second frame. The portable strap dispenser further includes a strap disc. The strap disc is provided with a pivot penetrating through the strap disc. Two ends of the pivot are pivoted to the first frame and the second frame, respectively. The first frame is pivotally provided with a brake device. During transportation, the portable strap dispenser can be disassembled to reduce its size so as to increase cargo capacity and lower transportation cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Hsiu-Man Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 9932201
    Abstract: A coil tubing spool handling device includes a base structure and a vertical support structure. The base structure includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a rocker portion with a curved surface to allow the base structure to rotate along the curved surface. The vertical support structure is connected to the base structure proximate the rocker portion, and extends substantially perpendicular to the upper surface. The vertical support structure and the upper surface can receive a coil tubing spool. A center of rotation of the rocker portion is located in a forward location relative to a center of gravity of the device when the vertical support structure and upper surface receive the coil tubing spool. The relative positions of the center of gravity and the center of rotation bias the handling device to rotate from a vertical position to a horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TENARIS COILED TUBES, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Reichert, Thu-Ha Thi Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9932202
    Abstract: The present invention is a spool holder that is an insert for inserting in the hole in a spool to frictionally engage the inner surface of the spool, and having an attachment mechanism that allows the insert to be attached to a surface, such as the vertical metallic side of a car. The attachment mechanism may include a number of magnets disposed in receptacles in the insert, or a number of small suction cups on the lateral sides of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: LANGEMAN MANUFACTURING LIMITED
    Inventor: Gary D. Langeman
  • Patent number: 9932203
    Abstract: A deterioration state of load bearing capacity in an elevator suspension member having a plurality of electrically conductive cords is detected by: providing a multi-phase alternating current circuitry including electrically conductive legs; applying at least one phase of a multi-phase alternating current to at least one of the cords electrically connected to one of the legs; applying at least another phase of the current to at least another cord and at least one resistor electrically connected to at least another leg; measuring an electric indicator current being at least one of a net sum of all phases of the current and an electric bypass current through a neutral wire being connected in parallel to the circuitry, wherein a peak current in each phase is shifted by a phase angle with respect to a peak current in another phase; and determining the deterioration state based on the measured indicator electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Vincent Robibero
  • Patent number: 9932204
    Abstract: A conveyance system includes a car; a machine for imparting motion to the car, the machine including a stator and a rotor, the stator including 12*k stator teeth, the rotor including 11*k rotor poles, wherein k is a natural even number, the machine including windings located at the stator teeth, the windings arranged in 6 phases; and a drive unit for providing drive signals to the machine, the drive unit including a plurality of drives, the number of drives being an integer multiple of 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Zbigniew Piech, Cezary Jedryczka, Wojciech Szelag
  • Patent number: 9932205
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car located in a hoistway. One or more belts are operably connected to the elevator car to drive and/or support the elevator car along the hoistway. The one or more belts are routed over one or more sheaves. The one or more sheaves include an outer surface rotatable about a central axis and a flange located at at least one lateral end of the sheave. The sheave further includes a tracking compensator to limit lateral motion of the belt along the outer surface to prevent the belt from contacting the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Alan Stover Githens
  • Patent number: 9932206
    Abstract: A plate belt of a moving walkway has plates arranged in succession in a movement direction and between two mutually parallel link chains formed by chain links of different widths. Each chain link is connected with one of the plates by at least one fastening device. The fastening devices include a fastening bolt and a cup washer, wherein the cup washer has a cup base ring and a cup collar encircling the cup base ring. The inner height of the cup collar corresponds with the thickness of at least one chain link strap of the chain link and the inner diameter of the cup collar is greater than the outer diameter of the region of the fastening bolt bearing against the cup base ring in the mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Michael Matheisl, Robert Schulz, Werner Eidler, Thomas Illedits
  • Patent number: 9932207
    Abstract: A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Vacuworx Global, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks
  • Patent number: 9932208
    Abstract: A lifting harness is described herein. The lifting harness includes a waist belt adapted to extend around a waistline of a user and a shoulder support assembly coupled to the waist belt. The shoulder support assembly is adapted to extend across each shoulder of the user and includes a pair of shoulder support straps. A pair of lifting strap assemblies is coupled to the shoulder support assembly. Each lifting strap assembly includes a lifting strap having a first end, a middle portion, and a second end. The middle portion is coupled to a corresponding shoulder support strap and adapted to extend across a corresponding shoulder of the user. The first end is coupled to the second end to form a shoulder loop. An attachment device is coupled to the first end of the lifting strap. A lifting device is detachably coupled to the attachment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: E-Z Barrow LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Ray Mealy
  • Patent number: 9932209
    Abstract: A vehicle top lift and storage system is disclosed herein. The vehicle top lift and storage system includes a lift mechanism configured to attach to a vehicle top and to suspend the vehicle top. The left mechanism may include various configurations of straps, hooks, or pulleys, as described herein, to aid in removal of the vehicle top from a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: LANGE ORIGINALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carter Smith, Tobin Gunderson
  • Patent number: 9932210
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plugging device for releasably connecting the drum wheel (2) of the at least one loose drum rotatably mounted on the main shaft of a winding engine, said drum wheel being rigidly connected to the loose drum, to the shaft wheel (4) which is rigidly connected to the main shaft. The releasable connection of the drum wheel (2) to the shaft wheel (4) is carried out in a formfitting manner by means of an engageable and disengageable sliding wheel (6) which is guided on a shaft wheel (4). Actuations (10) are carried out in points in a distributed manner over the circumference of the sliding wheel, said actuations acting directly on the sliding wheel (6), in order to engage and disengage the sliding wheel (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMAG TECBERG GMGH
    Inventor: Stephan Sonneborn
  • Patent number: 9932211
    Abstract: A stabilizer for a line may include a guide configured for arrangement on the line to resist and/or damp lateral motions of the line where the guide may include a guide jacket having a static sleeve configured to allow the line to pass through the guide and a fortifying bracket configured to reinforce the guide jacket and configured to interface with a hanging system to support the guide jacket and maintain the guide jacket in position on the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Anton Krijnen
  • Patent number: 9932212
    Abstract: A mechanical overload sensor system for a planetary winch having a biasing means that when overcome by the force on a ring gear, opens an electric switch which terminates power to the winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ramsey Winch Company
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Miller
  • Patent number: 9932213
    Abstract: A lift truck includes a frame, a pair of laterally spaced apart outriggers extending from the frame, and a load handling assembly secured to the frame adjacent to the outriggers. The load handling assembly includes a mast assembly positioned between the outriggers and a carriage assembly including fork structure for supporting a load on the load handling assembly. The carriage assembly is movable vertically along the mast assembly and laterally with respect to the mast assembly. Optical sensor structure of the truck monitors for conditions wherein movement of the carriage assembly would result in contact between the load and the outrigger(s). A vehicle controller receives a signal from the optical sensor structure and prevents movement of the carriage assembly toward the outrigger(s) if the signal from the optical sensor structure indicates that such movement would result in contact between the load and the outrigger(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Jürgen Buchmann, Thomas Gumpp, Andreas Simon
  • Patent number: 9932214
    Abstract: A lift truck platform apparatus for transporting rolling racks provides a platform and a frame extending upwardly from the platform. A clamp is attached to the frame. The clamp is vertically moveable relative to the platform for selectively engaging and securing in place the rolling racks when the rolling racks are loaded on the platform. The clamp is vertically moveable away from the platform for releasing the rolling racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Brauer
  • Patent number: 9932215
    Abstract: Disclosed are power machines and lift arm suspension or ride control systems for use thereon. A lift arm assembly is pivotally coupled to a frame of the power machine and is capable of being raised and lowered. A selectively activated lift arm suspension system is operably coupled to the lift arm assembly. A controller is coupled to the suspension system and configured to determine whether the lift arm assembly has moved more than a threshold amount. The controller deactivates the lift arm suspension system in response to determining that the lift arm assembly has moved more than the threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Gaetan Billaud, Nicolas Gales, Laurent Gicquel, Nathalie LeBeuze, Gilles Siegwald, Allen C. Olheiser
  • Patent number: 9932216
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing system includes a control system electrically connected with a beverage dispenser, a proximity sensor, and a touch-sensitive display. The control system causes the touch-sensitive display to display an advertising state when the proximity sensor indicates a user is not present at the beverage dispensing system and a beverage selection state when the proximity sensor indicates a user is present. The control system further causes the touch-sensitive display to display a pour state after a beverage choice selection is made through the touch sensitive display during the display of the beverage selection state. The control system still further causes the beverage dispenser to deliver the beverage choice after a pour request is made through the touch sensitive display during the display of the pour state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Lancer Corporation
    Inventors: George E. Hernandez, Jeremiah A. Hong
  • Patent number: 9932217
    Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and apparatuses for a portable hydration system including a mechanical or electromechanical mechanism for dispensing additives into a liquid or other solute in a portable container. Such additives include solids, liquid, powders, and gases, and include vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, and other consumables. Additives are introduced into the hydration device via closed vessels equipped with RFID tags or similar, capable of transferring data about the vessels' contents to the device. Dispensing is initiated manually by direct user action, automatically by the device, and/or externally through an associated application on a user device. Dispensing is adjustable by contextual factors such as a user's preferences, location, activity, physiologic status, and the like, obtained via APIs to third party applications or through more direct measurements or inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: LifeFuels, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Perrelli, David J. Wheatley, Todd Metlen, Maxim D. Wheatley, Connor J. Bacon
  • Patent number: 9932218
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage includes a housing, a first receptacle, a second receptacle, a cutting assembly, a water source, and at least one water outlet. The first receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a first beverage container containing a liquid. The second receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a second beverage container containing a liquid. The cutting assembly has a cutting blade that is movable relative to the first and second receptacles for opening the first and second containers substantially simultaneously so that liquid stored therein can be at least in part evacuated. The water source is coupled to the housing The at least one water outlet is associated with one or more of the first and second receptacles for adding water to the liquid from the first and second beverage containers from the water source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BIBO BARMAID LLC
    Inventors: Douglas F. Melville, Jr., Gary M. Barch, Craig Bures, Debra L. Walker
  • Patent number: 9932219
    Abstract: A walled dispenser base for use with a dispenser for delivering a liquid from an inverted supply bottle. The dispenser has a reservoir container attached to a dispenser valve. The dispenser valve is detached from the walled dispenser base. The dispenser valve extends through a side opening of the walled dispenser base. The walled dispenser base has a top portion where the inverted supply bottle is supported. The walled dispenser base has a rim that has an open section. The side opening extends through the open section of the rim. A foot having a perimeter is formed at a bottom portion of the walled dispenser base. The dispenser valve extends though the side opening and delivers the liquid from the inverted supple bottle beyond the perimeter of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Kenneth John Gallagher
  • Patent number: 9932220
    Abstract: A distribution station includes reels that are arranged on first and second opposed sides in a mobile trailer, with an aisle walkway down the middle of the mobile trailer. The aisle walkway has an aisle width and the mobile trailer has a trailer width, and a ratio of the trailer width to the aisle width is no greater than 5. The reels have a reel diameter, and the aisle width is greater than the reel diameter by a factor of at least 1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Fuel Automation Station, LLC
    Inventor: Ricky Dean Shock
  • Patent number: 9932221
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first substrate, a first electrical component, a lid, a second substrate, and a second electrical component. The first substrate may include an upper surface, a lower surface, and an upper cavity in the upper surface. The first electrical component may reside in the upper cavity of the first substrate. The lid may cover the upper cavity and may include a port that permits fluid to flow between an environment external to the semiconductor device and the upper cavity. The second substrate may include the second electrical component mounted to an upper surface of the second substrate. The lower surface of the first substrate and the upper surface of the second substrate may fluidically seal the second electrical component from the upper cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: AMKOR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence Prestousa Natan, Adrian Arcedera, Roveluz Lledo-Reyes, Sarah Christine-Sanchez Torrefranca
  • Patent number: 9932222
    Abstract: Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) beam structure by venting both tungsten material and silicon material above and below the MEMS beam to form an upper cavity above the MEMS beam and a lower cavity structure below the MEMS beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael T. Brigham, Christopher V. Jahnes, Cameron E. Luce, Jeffrey C. Maling, William J. Murphy, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 9932223
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing microelectromechanical structures in a layer sequence and a corresponding electronic component having a microelectromechanical structure. The method includes provision of a carrier substrate including a first surface, an application of an insulation layer onto the first surface, an epitaxial growth of a first silicon layer onto the insulation layer, a structuring of the first silicon layer for forming trenches in the first silicon layer, a passivation of the first silicon layer, whereby the trenches are filled and a passivation layer is formed on a side facing away from the first surface, a structuring of the passivation layer, sacrificial areas and functional areas being formed in the first silicon layer, and the sacrificial areas are free of the passivation layer, at least at some points, on a side facing away from the carrier substrate, and, finally, removal of the sacrificial areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hans Artmann, Arnd Kaelberer, Christian Zielke, Oliver Breitschaedel, Peter Borwin Staffeld
  • Patent number: 9932224
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices with enclosed cavities and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices with enclosed cavities are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device with a cavity includes forming a sacrificial structure in and/or over a substrate. The method includes depositing a permeable layer over the sacrificial structure and the substrate. Further, the method includes etching the sacrificial structure through the permeable layer to form the cavity bounded by the substrate and the permeable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Siddharth Chakravarty, Rakesh Kumar, Pradeep Yelehanka
  • Patent number: 9932225
    Abstract: A method of forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) includes forming a lower electrode on a first insulator layer within a cavity of the MEMS. The method further includes forming an upper electrode over another insulator material on top of the lower electrode which is at least partially in contact with the lower electrode. The forming of the lower electrode and the upper electrode includes adjusting a metal volume of the lower electrode and the upper electrode to modify beam bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher V. Jahnes, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 9932226
    Abstract: In one aspect, a composite material is disclosed herein that includes graphene platelets dispersed in a matrix. In some cases, the graphene platelets are randomly oriented within the matrix. The composite material can provide improved thermal conductivity and may be formed into heat spreaders or other thermal management devices to provide improved cooling to electronic, electrical components and semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Namsoo P. Kim