Patents Issued in January 22, 2019
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Patent number: 10183503Abstract: A drying device includes a first heater, a second heater, a conveyance path, and an infrared heater. The first heater contacts and heats a medium on which liquid is applied. The second heater contacts and heats the medium. The second heater contacts the medium at a distance longer than a distance at which the first heater contacts the medium. The conveyance path of the medium includes a first conveyance-path portion and a second conveyance-path portion. The medium is conveyed while contacting the first heater in the first conveyance-path portion. The first conveyance-path portion is disposed upstream from the second heater in a direction of conveyance of the medium. The second conveyance-path portion is disposed downstream from the second heater in the direction of conveyance of the medium. The infrared heater is disposed in the second conveyance-path portion, to irradiate an infrared ray to the medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiro Yoshinuma, Yasuhisa Katoh, Junji Nakai, Hirokazu Ikenoue, Sho Sawahata, Ken Onodera
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Patent number: 10183504Abstract: An image processing device causing an image forming apparatus to form a laminate image including a recording unit to discharge a liquid to a recording medium, a curing unit to cure the liquid discharged by the recording unit, and a drive unit, includes a scanning control unit to control the drive unit to move the recording unit and the curing unit of the image forming apparatus in a sub-scanning direction and scan the recording unit and the curing unit in a main scanning direction multiple times; and a matte lamination control unit to cause the recording unit of the image forming apparatus to form the laminate image on an image forming area being a part of an entire image forming area by scanning the recording unit in the main scanning direction in an amount of lamination and move the recording unit in the sub-scanning direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yuki Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 10183505Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a suction unit configured to allow a negative pressure, by which a sheet is sucked to a supporting portion, to act on the sheet; and ink receivers configured to receive ink ejected outside of the sheet. Waste ink ejected to the ink receivers is guided to a waste ink discharge port formed on an outer peripheral wall of a platen through waste ink channels. A sheet sucking mechanism configured to apply the negative pressure is disposed adjacent to the suction unit. A discharging mechanism configured to forcibly discharge waste ink outside of the platen is connected to the waste ink discharge port.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Seiji Ogasawara, Tetsuji Kurata, Masakazu Tsukuda, Takahide Onuma, Yasunori Saito
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Patent number: 10183506Abstract: A thermal printer having a printhead, a printhead arm to engage and disengage the printhead, a platen roller, a user interface, and a printhead pressure adjustment mechanism is provided. The improvement consists of at least one force sensor adapted to sense the pressure between the printhead and the platen roller in real-time. The force sensor is communicatively linked to the user interface. The user interface is configured to display the pressure measured by the force sensor in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: DATAMAS-O'NEIL CORPORATIONInventors: Ranuff Delario, Philamer Villa Creencia, Zheng Hao
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Patent number: 10183507Abstract: An image recording apparatus is configured such that, in response to receipt a first command designating recordation of an image on a first type sheet, a motor is driven in accordance with a first feeding condition, and in response to the first sensor not detecting the sheet until the motor rotates by a particular rotation amount, the motor is driven in accordance with a second feeding condition. Further, the controller causes the recorder to record an image, based on the first command, on the sheet which is fed as the motor is driven in accordance with the second feed condition, while, in response to the first sensor detecting the sheet before the motor rotates by the particular rotation amount, the controller does not record the image, based on the first command, on the sheet which is fed as the motor is driven in accordance with the first feeding condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yuki Matsui
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Patent number: 10183508Abstract: A recording medium post-processing apparatus includes: a stacker which is stacked with a plurality of sheet-like recording media with images being recorded thereon; an receiving device which receives at least one of information regarding the images to be recorded on the recording media and information regarding the recording media; an alignment device which applies an external force to the recording media stacked on the stacker so as to align the recording media; a controller which sets, on the basis of the at least one information received by the receiving device, at least one of (i) a stacked-sheet number that is the number of the recording media, and (ii) a magnitude of the external force that is applied to the recording media and which controls the alignment device on the basis of the setted at least one of the stacked-sheet number and the magnitude of the external force.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshihiro Itogawa
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Patent number: 10183509Abstract: A printing apparatus is configured to perform in a first mode in which a second driving unit drives a second spool to feed out a sheet from a roll to a printing unit via a second guide, the printing unit performs printing on the fed sheet, and a basket unit receives the printed sheet printed on by the printing unit, and a second mode in which a first driving unit drives a first spool to feed the out the sheet from a roll to the printing unit via a first guide, the printing unit performs printing on the fed sheet, and the second driving unit drives the second spool to wind up the printed sheet printed by the printing unit as a roll.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryo Kobayashi, Toshiaki Yamaguchi, Masaki Sumioka, Itaru Wada, Yoshiaki Suzuki
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Patent number: 10183510Abstract: The present invention provides a guide device for guiding print medium onto a take-up roll in a printing system. The guide device comprises a first guide member presenting a substantially planar surface for limiting or preventing lateral deviation of a printed medium output from the printing system as the medium moves along a transport path towards a take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of the medium. The first guide member is stationary in use. A position of the first guide member is adjustable in a direction transverse to the transport path for setting the position to limit or prevent lateral deviation of the medium along the transport path. The guide device further comprises a second guide member presenting a support surface configured and arranged to support the medium thereon as the medium travels along the transport path towards the take-up roll. The first guide member and the second guide member are preferably integrally formed as a guide unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.Inventors: Ronnie E. A. Blom, Tom J. H. Clabbers, Anne A. Wind, Peter F. M. Nacken, Maurice J. C. Lemmens, Lodewijk T. Holtman, Hermanus J. P. M. Philipse
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Patent number: 10183511Abstract: A support and stabilization unit (200, 300, 400, 500) for a web (20) advancing in its longitudinal direction over the unit from upstream to downstream; the unit includes in series at least one rotating support roller (31, 32) that is able to come into contact with an underside of the web (20), and at least one device (121, 122, 122?) for tensioning the web (20). The tensioning device (121, 122, 122?) includes a guiding face (121a, 122a) oriented toward the underside of the web (20), an internal cavity connected to the outside of the device via an outlet opening (121d) which is oriented toward the guiding face (121a, 122a), and an air inlet inside the internal cavity (121b), so as to produce, on the web (20), a force (F2) oriented toward the guiding face (121a, 122a).Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: BOBST MEX SAInventors: Sylvain Bapst, Alain Mayor, José-Manuel Romero
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Patent number: 10183512Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus including a frame, a recording head that is disposed in the frame, and performs recording by ejecting a liquid onto a recording medium, a stay that is disposed with the frame, and supports a liquid accommodation body, which accommodates a liquid to be ejected from the recording head, outside the frame, an ink supply tube that supplies a liquid that is accommodated in the liquid accommodation body, which is supported by the stay, to the recording head, and a frame cover that is detachable from the frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Satoshi Iwaya, Yoshisada Aoki
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Patent number: 10183513Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus in which a cleaning performance with respect to a transport belt is improved while suppressing a rise in cost of the apparatus is provided. A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with a transport belt which transports a recording medium, and a cleaning unit which cleans the transport belt. The cleaning unit can move between a cleaning position and an evacuation position, and is positioned at the cleaning position using positioning pins which are provided in a frame unit as a housing, and a groove portion which is provided in the cleaning unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Masaru Jingushi
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Patent number: 10183514Abstract: Examples described herein include method for calibrating LED modules in a curing engine. The method of calibrating UV curing modules includes receiving an uncured calibration image and initiating a curing operation that includes operating the curing modules according to a plurality of corresponding initial power level settings to apply radiant energy to the uncured calibration image to generate a cured calibration image. The method further includes receiving user input or information about an image characteristic of the cured calibration image from a user. The method then includes analyzing the user input to generate adjustments to the corresponding initial power level settings, and then applying the adjustments to the corresponding initial power level settings to generate a plurality of corresponding adjusted power level settings.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: HP SCITEX LTD.Inventors: Eyal Kotik, Alon Levin
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Patent number: 10183515Abstract: A printing apparatus, having a cassette, an attachable section, a printer, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to determine whether a medium remainder in a first cassette is equal to a predetermined amount; execute a reading action to read specific data from a first-typed memory device in the first cassette and store the specific data in a second-typed memory device, delete the specific data from the first-typed memory device in the first cassette; determine whether a second cassette being another cassette attached to the attachable section after execution of the reading action is a new cassette, in which the medium remainder is greater than the predetermined amount and in which the specific data is not stored in the first-typed memory device; and execute a writing action to write the specific data stored in the second-typed memory device to the first-typed memory device in the second cassette.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoto Ito, Junya Kawai
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Patent number: 10183516Abstract: An information processing apparatus receiving a process request from a terminal via networks includes a storage to store first communications information for connecting via a first network and second communications information for connecting via a second network, an identification information receiver to receive identification information from the terminal, the identification information identifying a user of the terminal, a determination unit to determine the first or second network based on the identification information to receive the process request from the terminal, a communications information transmitter to transmit the first or second communications information via the determined first or second network, and a request receiver to accept connection via the determined first or second network based on the transmitted communications information transmitted by the communications information transmitter from the terminal to receive the process request via the accepted the first or second network.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Yamada
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Patent number: 10183517Abstract: The embodiments of the disclosure provide a correction method for laser marking, comprising: obtaining an image to be marked; in a preset coordinate system of a laser marker, determining a fracture region and a non-fracture region of the image to be marked; correcting the non-fracture region of the image to be marked by using a preset correcting formula; correcting the fracture region of the image to be marked by using a preset standard correction value and a preset weighted coefficient corresponding to coordinate position; and marking with the corrected image to be marked. According to the disclosure, by providing weighted correction for the mark points within the fracture region according to finely divided coordinate positions, the distortion correction for the fracture region can be completed without measuring deviation values of marking region with high density and high precision.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: MAXPHOTONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Jun Song, Yixin Jiang, Gaofeng He, Feng Jiang
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Patent number: 10183518Abstract: An image forming medium capable of forming an image without using a printer including a plurality of first metal electrodes extending in one direction and being parallel to one another, a first oxide layer in which the first metal electrodes are embedded and which is made of an oxide of a metal constituting the first metal electrodes, a plurality of second metal electrodes extending in one direction and crossing the first electrodes in a surface direction of the first oxide layer, a second oxide layer in which the second metal electrodes are embedded and which is made of an oxide of a metal constituting the second metal electrodes, and a thermal color developing layer provided on the first metal electrodes or the second metal electrodes, in which the second metal electrodes are separated from the first metal electrodes by the second oxide layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Yoshihisa Usami
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Patent number: 10183519Abstract: The present utility model refers to a page marker device of the type that can be used between the pages of a book or publication, being that the marker incorporates a writing graphite. The device comprises a strip of graphite partially embedded in the elongate body. The recessed portion of the graphite strip has a length greater than the length of the non-embedded part of the graphite strip, and the elongate thin body has a flat part with a surface suitable for printing.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Inventors: Marcio Almeida Landim Batista, Matheus De Araújo Landim Batista
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Patent number: 10183520Abstract: A multiple-ply label roll includes end-to-end labels. Each label is operable to be adhesively applied to a substrate and includes top and bottom label plies. The bottom label ply includes an outer removable border portion defined between interior and outer ply edges and removable from the top label ply in a removal direction. The interior ply edge includes spaced apart side edges that extend along the removal direction to define a pair of spaced apart side sections of the removable portion. The interior ply edge includes a generally transverse end edge interconnecting the side edges to define an end section of the removable portion, with the end section extending between the side sections and being removed generally after the side sections when the removable portion is removed in the removal direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Premier Print & Services Group, Inc.Inventor: Bruce Raming
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Patent number: 10183521Abstract: A resin sheet includes a plastic layer and at least one cylindrical lens. The resin layer has a first surface and a second surface that is the surface on the opposite side from the first surface. The cylindrical lens is formed on the first surface and extends along a first axis. The resin layer is provided with a print portion that is colored by exposure to a laser beam. The print portion includes a focal point of the cylindrical lens. The resin layer is configured allow a laser beam that enters the cylindrical lens to pass through to the print portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomoyoshi Kaizuka
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Patent number: 10183522Abstract: The invention relates to a security element, comprising a thermoplastic or photo-sensitive replication lacquer layer, non-periodic randomly arranged (randomized) structures in the sub-micrometer range being incorporated into the replication lacquer layer and having an angle-independent optical effect, such as a color effect, and to a method for the production thereof and to the use thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignees: HUECK FOLIEN GES.M.B.H., JOANNEUM RESEARCH FORSCHUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBHInventors: Stefan Trassl, Klaus Schmidegg, Maria Belegratis, Volker Schmidt, Michael Steindorfer, Barbara Stadlober
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Patent number: 10183523Abstract: A document file includes a front cover, a rear cover, a spine portion, a first storage portion provided on an inner surface of the front cover, a second storage portion provided on an inner surface of the rear cover, a sheet bendably connected to the second side edge portion of the front cover and movable between a closed position and an open position, a third storage portion provided on a surface of the sheet opposite the front cover, and a spacer provided on at least one of the second storage portion and the third storage portion for adjusting a space between the second side edge portion of the front cover and the second side edge portion of the rear cover.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SOEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiki Kuroki, Yusuke Tsuchida, Yu Noma, Masatsugu Onuki
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Patent number: 10183524Abstract: A writing instrument having an automatic sealing structure, in which a hinge part of a holder has projection jaws formed thereon having a role of a stopper that can prevent a hinge shaft from being excessively pivoted, thereby more effectively preventing ink from drying out due to complete sealing of the nib.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: MORRIS CORPORATIONInventor: Hyun-son Yoon
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Patent number: 10183525Abstract: A wheel for a motor vehicle, has a rim intended to receive a tire and a wheel disc made of fiber composite material joined to the rim, as well as an arrangement including screws or nuts for fastening the wheel disc to a wheel hub, for which purpose the wheel disc has axially directed openings for the passage of the screws or threaded bolts for screwing onto the nuts. The arrangement includes, for each opening of the wheel disc, an insulating body, a bush and a washer, each having a central opening, which surround the opening of the wheel disc in a U-shape, wherein the bush rests as a frame at an inner circumference of the opening, and the insulating body and the washer, resting against the frame and against the wheel disc in each case on one side of the wheel, at least partially cover the wheel disc in the radial direction. The insulating body is directed towards the wheel inside and the washer is directed towards the wheel outside. The insulating body can consist at least partially of ceramic material.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: David Keller, Peter Jaegermeyr
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Patent number: 10183526Abstract: A method for manufacturing and attaching a novel vehicle wheel generally comprising a decorative member that is attached to a base wheel. In one non-limiting embodiment, a plurality of mounting apertures are provided on the base wheel that is secured to the vehicle axis/hub. The decorative member is provided with corresponding apertures that are aligned with the mounting holes of the base wheel. Bolt member, preferably hexagonal bolts are then inserted/threaded through the aligned apertures for securing the decorative member to the base wheel. A novel manufacturing method is also disclosed for manufacturing the base wheel and decorative attachment.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: AMERICAN FORCE WHEELS, INC.Inventor: Ali Reza Shadravan
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Patent number: 10183527Abstract: A height adjustable support comprising a three-sided support channel, a cylindrical support post positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Heinzen LLC.Inventors: Rudi Groppe, Erick Arthur Davidson
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Patent number: 10183528Abstract: An axle assembly having a wheel flange with a central opening and a slot having an end dimensioned to fit within the wheel flange central opening. A molten binder, such as molten zinc, fills the space in between the wheel central opening and the shaft end. Upon cooling, the binder locks the wheel flange and shaft together.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Panther Machine, Inc.Inventor: Donald Leith
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Patent number: 10183529Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle including a differential assembly, a first axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly and defining an axle bore, a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, and defining an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface, a retainer nut axially fixed to a distal end of the first axle tube, the retainer nut having an annular flange extending inwardly into the axle bore and defining an annular outer raceway, a snap ring received in the annular groove, and an axial thrust component disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube between the snap ring and the outer raceway of the retainer nut.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: KOYO BEARINGS NORTH AMERICA LLCInventor: Scott Abrahamson
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Patent number: 10183530Abstract: With respect to a laminate of a film formed of a thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer composition and a layer formed of a rubber composition in which an epoxidized natural rubber is blended, the adhesion between the film and the layer of the rubber composition is improved without using a large amount of the epoxidized natural rubber. A laminate of a film formed of a thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer composition and a layer formed of a rubber composition, said laminate being characterized in that: 5-60% by mass of a rubber component contained in the rubber composition is composed of an epoxidized natural rubber and 20-50% by mass of the rubber component is composed of a butadiene rubber; and the rubber composition contains an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic carboxylic acid having a pKa of 1.5-4.0 in an amount of 0.5-5 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hirokazu Shibata
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Patent number: 10183531Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a belt layer is formed by laminating a pair of cross belts having a belt angle, as an absolute value, of not less than 10° and not greater than 45° and having belt angles of mutually opposite signs, and a circumferential reinforcing layer having a belt angle within a range of ±5° with respect to the tire circumferential direction. Moreover, the distance (Gcc) from the tread profile to the tire inner circumferential surface along the tire equatorial plane and the distance (Gsh) from the tread edge to the tire inner circumferential surface have a relationship satisfying 1.10?Gsh/Gcc.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.Inventor: Koichi Kotoku
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Patent number: 10183532Abstract: A motorcycle tire includes a tread portion having a designated rotational direction, the tread portion provided with first inclined grooves extending from a central region to a shoulder region, and second inclined grooves extending from a middle region to the shoulder region. Each first inclined groove includes a first tapered portion, and each second inclined groove includes a second tapered portion. In a pair of the first and second inclined grooves that are arranged closest to each other, the second tapered portion is located behind a forward of the first tapered portion such that a straight line connecting between a forward of the second tapered portion and a backward of the first tapered portion has an angle of from 85 to 90 degrees with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsunami, Yumiko Yoshida
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Patent number: 10183533Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heavy-duty tire compatible with wear resistance, uneven wear resistance, and wet performance. In the present disclosure, by providing, to a tread section, a pair of center primary grooves, a pair of shoulder primary grooves, a plurality of center lateral grooves, a plurality of middle lateral grooves, and a plurality of shoulder lateral grooves, the tread section is divided into a center block, a middle block, and a shoulder block.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Masakazu Washizuka, Makoto Igarashi
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Patent number: 10183534Abstract: A tire pressure sensor device (122) for a wheel (112) of an aircraft (102) including a pressure sensor (124) for measuring the internal pressure of a tire, a temperature sensor (126) for measuring a temperature local to the tire (116), a memory unit (131) local to the tire for storing data, and a control unit (128) local to the tire arranged to record in the memory unit (131) data of the readings taken at intervals of time. The data recorded for each reading includes an indication of the time of the reading, the tire pressure and the temperature local to the tire. Measurements may be taken and recorded over time, both when the aircraft is on the ground and when the aircraft is in flight. Data may be uploaded to a portable handheld device (140) for analysis when maintaining the tires in their correctly inflated state.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventor: Andrew Raymond Bill
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Patent number: 10183535Abstract: Air-motion powered devices may be used to automatically maintain a target tire inflation pressure or to equip vehicle wheels with additional functionality. One illustrative device embodiment is an air compressor that attaches to the wheel of a vehicle, moving with the wheel as the wheel rotates. An action member extends from the compressor body to be acted upon by air through which the vehicle moves, the air causing motion of the action member relative to the compressor body to power the air compressor. Another illustrative device embodiment is an energy harvester that attaches to the wheel of a vehicle to move with the wheel as the wheel rotates. An action member attached to the base of the energy harvester is acted upon by air through which the vehicle moves, causing motion of the action member relative to the base to generate electrical power for sensors, lights, or other transducers.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Pygmalion Technologies LLCInventor: Roland E. Chemali
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Patent number: 10183536Abstract: A weight distribution system is shown and described. The weight distribution system may include a spring arm configured to be operatively engaged between plate members of a ball mount, and a pin member inserted into the spring arm, the pin member configured to secure the spring arm with the ball mount. The weight distribution system may also include an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place the spring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.Inventors: Richard W. McCoy, Marvin Hanson
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Patent number: 10183537Abstract: A safety device for attachment to a ball mount of a trailer hitch is provided, the safety device comprising: a tower, the tower including a housing, the housing including a front, a back and a central aperture; a tongue, the tongue slidably mounted in the housing normal to the tower and including a distal end, a proximal end, an underside, a top and at least two tongue apertures, the tongue apertures extending between the underside and the top; and a pin, the pin releasably retained in the central aperture and one tongue aperture to releasably retain the retention tongue in a position. A combination for retaining a trailer socket and a trailer hitch assembly are also provided. A method of releasably retaining a trailer on a trailer hitch is further provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Inventor: George William Jennex
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Patent number: 10183538Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable storage and locking apparatus that permits towing hitches and hitch-mountable accessories to be stored and locked to trailers, vehicles, buildings and other locations having exposed frames, beams, channels or other structures and storage locations. The apparatus does not require tools or hardware to mount and uses a pair of spaced-apart side plates joined to form a u-shaped mount that slides over a frame. The side plates have at least one pair of square-shaped aligned holes near the open ends, which extend past the frame and are configured to insert a towing hitch or accessory. With the apparatus over a frame, and a towing hitch or accessory inserted in the square holes, the apparatus is effectively secured to the frame and cannot be removed. A trailer hitch locking pin may be used to lock the hitch or accessory to the apparatus, and therefore to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Inventors: Michael Gordon Palmer, Todd Allen Palmer, John Thomas Palmer
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Patent number: 10183539Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: John Marking, Vegard Hamso
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Patent number: 10183540Abstract: A suspension device includes an actuator device provided with an extensible/contractible actuator body interposed between a sprung member and an unsprung member of a vehicle, a pump that supplies fluid to the actuator body to extend or contract the actuator body, and a controller that controls a rotation number of the pump. The controller has a road surface state index obtainment unit that obtains a road surface state index and a target rotation number determination unit that determines a target rotation number of the pump on the basis of the road surface state index.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: KYB CorporationInventor: Tatsuya Masamura
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Patent number: 10183541Abstract: The invention pertains to a system comprising: a source to generate a pulsed radiation pattern; a detector; a processor to process data from the detector when radiation is reflected by an object; a synchronization means interfacing between the detector and the source; wherein: the detector is synchronized with the source so that radiation to be processed is detected only during the pulses, the processor determines a characteristic of the object by determining displacement of detected spots with reference to predetermined positions, the source emits monochromatic light and the detector is equipped with a bandpass filter and optics arranged so as to modify an angle of incidence onto said filter to confine light to a predetermined range around a normal of said filter, said optics comprising an image-space telecentric lens.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: XENOMATIX NVInventors: Johan Van Den Bossche, Dirk Van Dyck, Liesbet Conings
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Patent number: 10183542Abstract: One or more vehicle sensors can be used in a suspension control system of an agricultural machine to dynamically adjust pistons located proximal to wheels of the machine to substantially control orientation. Such vehicle sensors could include: a speed sensor configured to provide an output indicating a speed of the machine; a turn angle sensor configured to provide an output indicating a turn angle of the machine; and/or an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) configured to detect a chassis-to-horizon angle. The output can be compared to a threshold for determining when to control valves in the suspension system to apply height corrections.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Roy A. Bittner, Blaine A. Schwalbe, Nathan P. Brooks
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Patent number: 10183543Abstract: The vehicle includes: a chassis which includes a front cross-member and a rear cross-member; a nacelle receiving a person or a load, pivotally mounted relative to the central part of the cross-members about a substantially longitudinal hinge axis, the center of gravity of the nacelle being situated below said hinge axis; a front train and a rear train, each including two movement supports on the ground, each movement support being connected to the end part of the corresponding cross-member by a connecting system; the cross-members, situated in the upper part of the nacelle, being separate pieces linked together only by the nacelle, via the hinge axis, so as to be able to pivot about the hinge axis independently of one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SWINCARInventor: Pascal Rambaud
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Patent number: 10183544Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat pump system for a vehicle having a battery module and an electric module. The heat pump system includes: a first cooling line connected to the battery module and having a coolant flowing therein; a chiller disposed on the first cooling line and connected to a refrigerant line of an air conditioning system through a connection line, and exchanging heat between a coolant selectively introduced therein and a refrigerant to control a temperature of the coolant; a cooling system including a radiator connected to a cooling line and a first pump circulating the coolant along the second cooling line so as to cool an electric module, and connected to the first cooling line through a first valve; and a bypass line selectively connecting the connection line and the refrigerant line to each other through a second valve provided on the refrigerant line.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Jai Young An, Myunghwan Kim, Wan Je Cho, Yeon Ho Kim, Yong Hyun Choi, Tae Han Kim
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Patent number: 10183545Abstract: A sliding door has a door main body and door support sections supported by contact with an inner wall of a guide groove. The guide groove has a groove lacking section having a size that the door main body can be inserted therefrom. When a first one of the door support sections that is the closest to a tip end of the sliding door is located within the groove lacking section, another one of the door support sections that is located opposite from the tip end of the sliding door through the groove lacking section satisfies a relational expression of A?90?0.2L, in which A represents a distance from the tip end to an end of the another one of the door support sections on a separated side away from the tip end, and L represents a door width of the door main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroyuki Sato
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Patent number: 10183546Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for infrared sensor arrays for monitoring vehicle occupants and windows. An example vehicle includes a side window and an infrared sensor array. The infrared sensor array includes first pixels of measurement resolution to monitor an occupant and second pixels of measurement resolution to monitor the side window. The example vehicle also includes a cabin environment controller to detect, via the first pixels, whether a body temperature of the occupant is outside a predetermined temperature range and detect, via the second pixels, whether fog is on the side window.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mike James Whitens, Clay Wesley Maranville, Cynthia Mowery Flanigan, Victoria Leigh Schein
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Patent number: 10183547Abstract: An idle stop control system and method for a vehicle includes at least one electronic control unit disposed within the vehicle that is configured to determine whether an idle stop condition for the vehicle is satisfied and whether the vehicle is in a stopped condition. The at least one electronic control unit is further configured to idle stop an engine of the vehicle when determined that both the idle stop condition is satisfied and that the vehicle is in the stopped condition. The at least one electronic control unit is also configured to determine whether an engine restart condition is satisfied after the engine is idle stopped and to restart the engine when determined that the engine restart condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTDInventors: Chris Hall, Junichi Kanemaru
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Patent number: 10183548Abstract: In a thermal management system for a vehicle, a first switching valve is connected to at least one device in a group of a plurality of devices, a heat medium discharge side of a first pump, and a heat medium discharge side of a second pump in parallel with each other; and a second switching valve is connected to at least one device in the device group, a heat medium suction side of the first pump, and a heat medium suction side of the second pump in parallel with each other. Heat medium circulating through a first device included in the device group allows to flow through the second device. One side of a heat medium inlet side and a heat medium outlet side of the second device is connected to between one of the first switching valve and the second switching valve and the first device.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Norihiko Enomoto, Michio Nishikawa, Nobuharu Kakehashi
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Patent number: 10183549Abstract: A vehicle having a heating and cooling system includes a refrigerant loop having first and second heat exchangers, a compressor, and an expansion device, and a coolant loop. The coolant loop is connected, in one embodiment, to allow a first flow of coolant to be directed through each of a plurality of heat exchangers and an auxiliary coolant loop and to allow a second flow of coolant to be directed through each of the plurality of heat exchangers and the auxiliary coolant loop dependent upon a mode of operation. A control module controls the first and second flows dependent upon the mode of operation. In one other embodiment, the coolant loop includes manifolds and reservoirs with regulating sending and receiving ports for directing the flows. The auxiliary coolant loop is for heating/cooling one or more components, such as a battery, dependent upon the mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manfred Koberstein, Angelo Patti, Loren John Lohmeyer, III, Jing He
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Patent number: 10183550Abstract: Methods and systems for providing controlling environmental conditions in a passenger compartment of a vehicle are presented. In one example, various low cost expansion valves are included in a system that has a receiver positioned downstream of an exterior heat exchanger to provide a climate control system with heating, cooling, dehumidification, and de-icing modes.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: James George Gebbie, Clay Wesley Maranville, Timothy Noah Blatchley
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Patent number: 10183551Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus is provided that can prevent temperature variations of the air after the heat exchange in a radiator to reliably control the temperature of the air supplied to the vehicle interior. During the heating operation and the heating and dehumidifying operation, target degree of supercooling SCt when target air-blowing temperature TAO is a predetermined temperature or higher is set to SCt1 that is greater than SCt2 when the target air-blowing temperature TAO is lower than the predetermined temperature. When amount of air Ga supplied from indoor fan 12 is lower than a predetermined value, the target degree of supercooling SCt is corrected, which is set such that the degree of supercooling is lower than target degree of supercooling corrected when the amount of air Ga supplied from the indoor fan 12 is a predetermined value or higher.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Atsuo Inoue, Hidenori Takei
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Patent number: 10183552Abstract: A vehicle temperature and air quality monitoring system is provided, the system including at least a system interface portion and a user interface portion. The system interface portion includes at least an electronic means for interfacing a vehicle temperature and air quality monitor and a computerized vehicle control system using a plug-in type interfacing means. In further embodiments the electronic means includes a dongle-type plug-in interfacing means such as a sixteen-pin OBD2 dongle port plug. The user interface portion further includes one or more of a cell phone port for remote adaptive programming; an external thermometer reader; a CO2 intake monitor reader; and an adaptor port for facilitating connection of additional monitors.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Inventors: Terry L. Zulkowski, John F. Font