Patents Issued in April 30, 2019
  • Patent number: 10273070
    Abstract: A collapsible container for the storage and transport of flowable material. The container is provided with a continuous sheet of side panels secured into stepped engagement with itself to define an interior. Foldable support brackets are secured to the side panels to maintain the side panels at an angled orientation relative to the side panels of the container and to prevent distortion of the side panels by hydrostatic pressure toward a circular orientation. The support brackets define an opening in the top of the collapsible container through which a fill head may engage a top cap of a flexible liner provided within the collapsible container, to fill the liner with flowable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Paper Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Perkins, William L. Chase
  • Patent number: 10273071
    Abstract: A hot-fillable plastic container includes a base and a body extending upward from the base. The includes a deformable cylindrical sidewall portion defining a central vertical axis, wherein the deformable cylindrical sidewall portion comprises at least two vertical pillars arranged along the body circumference. Each vertical pillar is joined to the next vertical pillar by a generally concave deformable sidewall panel having a concave arc-shaped transverse cross section of curvature radius. The curvature radii of the vertical pillars are smaller than the curvature radii of the generally concave deformable panels, and each transition between a vertical pillar and a generally concave deformable panel is smooth without any convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Plastipak BAWT S.á.r.l.
    Inventors: Steve Windelinckx, Alain Dessaint
  • Patent number: 10273072
    Abstract: A hot-fill PET container or bottle (10) filling with a liquid at an elevated temperature has a side wall (9) extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel (11) and a base (21) in its unfolded or pre-fill position. The panel (11) is transversely oriented and has a decoupling or hinge structure or element (13), an initiator portion (1) and control portion (5) of a steeply angled inverting conical section between 30 and 45 degrees. The control portion enables the inversion of the panel (11) into the container (10) to compensate for vacuum or reduced pressure induced within the container as the liquid cools down. The base (2) can also have a plurality of reinforcing ribs (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CO2 PAC Limited
    Inventor: David Murray Melrose
  • Patent number: 10273073
    Abstract: A shipping container has an inner insulative sleeve having an outer, longitudinally extending, polymer film with lateral edges folded on itself to form a pocket having an opening and sealable by a flap. An assembly has an inner, longitudinally extending, biodegradable film having lateral edges and a longitudinal extending pad composed of textile cuttings and microbial and super-absorbent powders. The inner film extends longitudinally around the pad and is attached to the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Chad A. Collison
  • Patent number: 10273074
    Abstract: A reclosable container for consumer items includes a box, a lid hingedly connected to the box, an inner liner wrapped around the consumer items, the inner liner including a section defining an opening for allowing access to the consumer items, means to open and reclose the opening, and an inner frame attached to the box. The inner frame includes a free inner frame portion protruding from the box towards the opening in the inner liner. The free inner frame portion includes a cut out and the inner frame is attached to the inner liner proximate to the cut out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Bodo-Werner Lutzig
  • Patent number: 10273075
    Abstract: A storage device for headwear that includes an elongated container with side surfaces, top and bottom surfaces and a back surface that also features a drawer that can be slid in and out of the container through an opening at one end of the container. The opening is covered by a door featuring a magnet whose polarity is opposite that of another magnet embedded in the bottom surface of the container. The devices can be stacked one on top of another and magnets in the door of one device and the bottom surface of another device hold the door of one of the devices open. The container features one or more stops that contact the walls of the drawer to prevent it from being pulled out of the container. A horizontal flange limits the vertical movement of the drawer and cooperates with the stops to hold the drawer in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Kellen Brantley
  • Patent number: 10273076
    Abstract: A beverage producing system is provided comprising a capsule containing beverage ingredients and a beverage preparation machine. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body and a lid; the cup-shaped body having a base and a side wall and the lid being sealed to the cup-shaped body. Prior to insertion, the side wall comprises: — an annular trough being dimensioned to receive an enclosing member of the beverage preparation machine on movement of the enclosing member, into a closed position; — a first side wall section extending between the base and the annular trough; and — a second side wall section extending between the annular trough and a rim of the capsule. A capsule and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Andrew Chapman, Stuart Banister, Simon Jelley, Esak Shabudin, Andrew Halliday
  • Patent number: 10273077
    Abstract: A capsule (1) including a casing (2) having first and second end walls (3, 4) spaced one from the other and interconnected by a lateral wall (5) having an essentially annular shape, and defining an internal chamber (6) containing an amount or dose of a substance (7) for the preparation of a beverage. The casing (2) has at least one first and at least one second permeable or pierceable wall portion (5a, 4a), acting as inlet and outlet, respectively, for the introduction of a flow of water into said chamber (6) and the outflow of the beverage from said chamber (6), respectively. An inlet wall portion (5a) for the introduction of water into the chamber (6) is provided in the annular lateral wall (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: LUIGI LAVAZZA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alfredo Vanni, Alberto Cabilli
  • Patent number: 10273078
    Abstract: Transportable technical container for chemical liquids provided with a container body at least provided with a base wall, with an opposite upper wall and with perimeter walls, said container body realizing a containment chamber, wherein the technical container is provided with a grip handle and with a threaded cylindrical mouth closable by a threaded closing cap, wherein the height of each perimeter wall is in any case lower than the width and length dimensions both of the base wall and of the upper wall in such a way that the technical container assumes a substantially flattened shape so as to be able to be positioned in the space present below a professional oven of the known type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ALI GROUP SRL
    Inventors: Moreno Zanchetta, Pierluigi Amico
  • Patent number: 10273080
    Abstract: An air cargo container has a tubular head rail extending across the front opening of the container. Sliders are provided in or on the head rail. A curtain door has sheet of flexible material and flexible straps attached to the sheet. The straps are attached to the sliders. The curtain door may be opened and closed via the sliders sliding along the head rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Satco, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Looker
  • Patent number: 10273081
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can include cinches, receptacles, and associated methods. In one embodiment, a cinch can include a base member configured to be attached to a body of a receptacle, a first member that can be substantially parallel to the base member, and a second member that can extend outwardly from the base member and is substantially transverse to the first member, wherein the inner surfaces of the base, first, and second members can define a handle. A slot for retaining a flexible liner can extend from the inner to the outer surface of the first member and a through-hole in the second member can be configured to receive the flexible liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC
    Inventors: Earle Cramer, Allison Hammer, Monica Lichty
  • Patent number: 10273082
    Abstract: An attachable stabilizer for laterally supporting a garbage bin balances the garbage bin as it is being pushed or pulled by the user. The attachable stabilizer includes a clevis, an extension plate, a garbage-bin coupler, a wheel, and an axle. The clevis affixes the wheel onto the extension plate in a steerable manner, thereby allowing the wheel to steer when the garbage bin makes a turn. The extension plate rotatably and laterally supports the garbage bin from tipping over. The garbage-bin coupler releasably couples the extension plate onto the wheel-and-axle assembly. As such, the extension plate may be retrofitted onto a variety of different garbage bins. The wheel and the axle along with the wheel-and-axle assembly allows the garbage bin to roll over the terrain. This allows the user to easily transport the garbage bin even if it is heavily loaded with waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Peter Alden Lounsbury
  • Patent number: 10273083
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cover assemblies for use with containers such as large dumpsters or roll-off containers. The cover assembly generally includes a cover portion, a frame portion, and one or more mounting arms. The cover is coupled to the frame, and the frame is movable with respect to the mounting arm from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position comprises a closed position and wherein the second position comprises an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: TB Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Richard Boesch
  • Patent number: 10273084
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a storage rack for an automated warehouse storage system comprising a storage track for accessing storage space by a multi-directional load carrying shuttle; and an aisle track comprising a track crossing for accessing the storage track. The aisle track is decoupled from the storage track by a discontinuity between the track crossing and the storage track. The track crossing bends downwards towards the discontinuity for engaging a first and third tread of the multi-directional load carrying shuttle with the storage track in a continuous manner and/or wherein the storage track bends downwards towards the discontinuity for engaging the first and third tread with the storage track in a continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dematic NV
    Inventor: Noë Van Bergen
  • Patent number: 10273085
    Abstract: An example process may include receiving a request identifying an action with respect to an item and a modular storage system. The modular storage system may include a plurality of shipping containers accessible from an item transfer facility. The process may also include identifying a particular shipping container of the plurality of shipping containers to fulfill the request. The process may also include identifying, within the particular shipping container, a particular storage module to fulfill the request. The particular storage module may include a particular plurality of storage containers. The process may also include identifying, from among the particular plurality of storage containers, a particular storage container to fulfill the request. The process may also include causing movement of the particular plurality of storage containers to move the particular storage container to an access position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Stuart Battles, Timothy Alan Talda, Martin Peter Aalund
  • Patent number: 10273086
    Abstract: A conveyor belt (1) for conveying a good in a belt travel direction, comprising magnetic markers (21,22) embedded into the belt, the magnetic markers (21,22) being arranged in at least one row (2) parallel to the belt's travel direction, characterized in that a) the magnetic markers (21,22) are formed of a matrix of an elastomeric, thermoplastic elastomeric or thermoplastic material with particles of a ferromagnetic material embedded therein, b) the matrix is filled with the ferromagnetic material particles in an amount of 60 to 90 vol %, based on the sum of matrix and ferromagnetic material particles; c) the geometric thickness of the markers is 30 to 70% of the overall thickness of the belt; and d) the ferromagnetic material has a maximum energy product (BH)max in the range of 30 to 100 k J/m3. The belt is suitable for prolonged use in single pass line-head inkjet printers and allows precise position determination of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventors: Giuseppe Bassi, Gianfranco Marcon, Sergio Bertacchi, Matteo Mapelli, Andreas Lehmann
  • Patent number: 10273087
    Abstract: A conveyor belt, in particular a tubular conveyor belt or a pipe conveyor belt or a pouch conveyor belt, which has a belt body that has a carrying-side cover sheet, a profiling that is formed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the carrying-side cover sheet being formed on the carrying-side cover sheet, the profiling having a number of transverse-strip profiling regions along a longitudinal direction of the carrying-side cover sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ContiTech Transportbandsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Andrey Minkin
  • Patent number: 10273088
    Abstract: A positively-driven, low tension conveyor belt has longitudinal rails extending on the drive surface of the belt to prevent or reduce vibration. The longitudinal rails form channels separating lanes of drive teeth on the drive surface to form drive pockets. The longitudinal rails protrude past the drive teeth and ride on a conveyor belt carryway during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Adam E. Bannerman, Gurvinder Gandhi
  • Patent number: 10273089
    Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of slats, the slats including a base portion for carrying an item. The base portion has a perpendicular leading edge relative to a direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt and a perpendicular trailing edge relative to the direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt. At least one slat is pivotably coupled to another slat and one of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the at least one slat is coupled to one of the plurality of rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: PRINCE CASTLE LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Adomaitis, Frank Anthony Agnello, Richard Bauer, Eloy Cerda, Mark Edward Fastabend, Sean Patrick Forrest, Charles B. Hartfelder, Karl Ronald Heinze, Scott R. Hammac, Kyle Thomas Kestner, Christine S. Laub, Eugene Stanley Maslana, Calvin States Nelson, Laurence A. Schoell, Zoran Ulicevic, Aleksandr Yazvin, Loren J. Veltrop, Brian J. Truesdale, Dennis Malkowski
  • Patent number: 10273090
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for transferring bulk material comprises a conveyor which is supported in inclined orientation with its discharge at a higher elevation than its intake. The conveyor is carried on a frame arranged for rolling movement on a support surface, affording the portability of the apparatus. The conveyor is displaceable back and forth relative to the axle assembly in a lateral direction to adjust a position of the discharge of the conveyor in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Gordon John Blechinger
  • Patent number: 10273091
    Abstract: A fracture detection system and method for a dumbbell pin of a scraper conveyor. The system comprises a scraper conveyor, a wireless ranging apparatus (2), a wireless communication device, a support controller and a monitoring center. The wireless ranging apparatus (2) is mounted on a ramp plate ledge of a scraper conveyor chute (1), and has a laser range finder and a reflection target plate (24) for detecting a relative displacement between any two adjacent chutes. The wireless communication device realizes communication between the wireless ranging apparatus (2) and the support controller, and transmits the displacement of the laser range finder to the support controller in a wireless transmission manner. The support controller controls an action of the scraper conveyor chute (1). A monitoring center is electrically connected to the support controller, and can perform storage processing on relative displacement data of any adjacent chutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: China University of Mining and Technology
    Inventors: Wei Li, Xing Zhang, Zhencai Zhu, Mingquan Qiu, Yong Ren, Gongbo Zhou, Yuxing Peng, Guohua Cao
  • Patent number: 10273092
    Abstract: Articles are transferred from an article supply conveyor to an article receiving conveyor while the transferring articles are selectively reoriented. When the conveyors are in parallel, a travelling article reorienting turret seeks articles following an article absence or hole on the supply conveyor and transfers the following article to a next-in-line position on the receiving conveyor to cure or avoid holes of articles on the receiving conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: R.A Jones & Co.
    Inventors: Robert M. Kalany, Anthony B. Salvato, Mark Roland Godon, Michael Andre Lemay, Aleksandr Shneyder
  • Patent number: 10273093
    Abstract: A conveyor for conveying loads along a conveying direction has a frame and a plurality of rollers mounted in the frame. The conveyor also has a trigger pedal movable between an idle position and an engaged position, and a separator stop movable between a retracted position and a protruding position. A coupling is between the trigger pedal and the separator stop for transmitting to the separator stop a movement applied to the trigger pedal. A manual release mechanism also is provided. The frame has an end portion positioned after the plurality of rollers in the conveying direction. The manual release mechanism is arranged in the end portion and the trigger pedal is arranged within the end portion. The coupling has a knee-joint mechanism and is configured to pull the separator stop in the protruding position and to push the separator stop in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Antoine Loizeau, Patrick Guitton
  • Patent number: 10273094
    Abstract: A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Marc D. Koeppel, Keith G. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 10273095
    Abstract: An electromagnetic propulsion system for electrically conductive articles, such as aluminum beverage cans. Currents in coils disposed along a passageway induce currents in aluminum cans in the passageway. The electromagnetic fields produced by the coil currents and the eddy currents in the cans interact to produce forces that propel the cans along the passageway. A coil drive supplies the coils with a low-frequency current to propel the cans and a high-frequency current to heat the cans. The coils are arranged as solenoids encircling the passageway or as planar arrays bracketing the passageway. Besides being used to propel aluminum cans, the coils can be used to spin cans. The electromagnetic propulsion systems are shown in can washers and dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bryant G. Ragan
  • Patent number: 10273096
    Abstract: A conveyor system including: a track comprising a first magnetic element; and a moving element comprising a second magnetic element for interacting with the track to provide a magnetic force that retains the moving element on the track; wherein absent the magnetic force, the moving element is released from the track. In another aspect, a conveyor system includes: a track having at least one guide rail; and a moving element; wherein a magnetic force controls movement of the moving element in a direction of travel and the magnetic force supports the moving element in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of travel; and wherein the at least one guide rail supports the moving element in a third direction perpendicular to both the direction of travel and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Albert John Kleinikkink, Donald James Mowat, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur Scott
  • Patent number: 10273097
    Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a sheet supporting portion supported liftably between a standby position and a lifted position, a lifting portion arranged below the sheet supporting portion, and configured to lift the sheet supporting portion toward the lifted position by pressing the sheet supporting portion from below. The sheet supporting portion includes a supporting surface defining a non-interference region in which a width regulating portion can move in a width direction. A projected portion is provided on the lifting portion, and configured to project upward toward a non-interference region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10273098
    Abstract: A cassette push plate locking device capable of absorbing impact to the cassette push plate according to the present disclosure, includes a cassette push plate disposed in a cassette, a locking lever that is movable by switching of a cassette door; and a locking unit including a torque limiter that allows the cassette push plate to move over a predetermined force and prevents the cassette push plate from moving under the predetermined force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ATEC AP CO., LTD
    Inventor: Do Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 10273099
    Abstract: An image recording device having a recording unit to record an image on a sheet is provided. The image recording unit includes a feed guide defining a first conveying path; an arm disposed between the recording unit and the tray, the arm having a feed roller rotatably disposed at a free end and configured to feed the sheet in the tray to the first conveying path. The arm pivots between a first arm position, and a second arm position. The return guide pivots between a first return guide position, and a second return guide position. A space occupied by the return guide in the first return guide position overlaps a space occupied by the arm in the second arm position. The return guide is in the second return guide position when the arm is in the second arm position which is retracted from an insertion space occupied by the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 10273100
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a third pivoting guide member located between a first pivoting guide member on a side of fixed guide members and a second pivoting guide member on a side of an opening/closing member. In a state in which an upstream conveying path and a re-conveying path are formed, the first pivoting guide member pivots toward the third pivoting guide member to expand the upstream conveying path when pushed by a sheet conveyed from the upstream conveying path, and the third pivoting guide member pivots toward the first pivoting guide member to expand the re-conveying path when pushed by a sheet conveyed from the re-conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Oya, Satoshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10273101
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and an optional device attachable to the image forming apparatus, includes a sheet container, a sheet feeder, a separator, a guide, and a projection. The sheet container loads multiple sheets. The sheet feeder feeds a sheet out of the multiple sheets in the sheet container. The separator separates the sheet from another sheet fed together with the sheet. The guide having a guide surface to guide the sheet passing the separator such that the sheet is fed in a predetermined sheet conveying direction. An upstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the guide surface of the guide is located lower than a downstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the separator. The projection is disposed facing the separator at the upstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Toshiaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10273102
    Abstract: Printing devices include a media supply storing print media, a luminescent belt positioned adjacent the media supply in a location to move sheets of the print media from the media supply, a print engine positioned adjacent the luminescent belt in a location to receive the sheets from the luminescent belt, an optical sensor positioned adjacent the belt in a location to receive belt-emitted light from the luminescent belt, and a processor electrically connected to the optical sensor. The processor receives the image from the optical sensor and identifies locations of the sheets on the belt based on where the sheets block the belt-emitted light from the luminescent belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Seemit Praharaj, Paul J. McConville, Douglas K. Herrmann, Jason M. LeFevre, Chu-heng Liu, Erwin Ruiz, Paul M. Fromm, Linn C. Hoover, David A. VanKouwenberg, Jeffrey J. Bradway, Martin E. Hoover, Bruce H. Smith, Donald Thresh, James D. Van Bortel, Michael N. Soures, Jonathan R. Ireland
  • Patent number: 10273103
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a shape detecting portion, and a switch control portion. The shape detecting portion detects a shape of a sheet at a detection position between a first conveyance member and a second conveyance member. The switch control portion, when a front end of the sheet has passed a arrangement position at which the first conveyance member is arranged, switches an detection interval at which the shape of the sheet is detected by the shape detecting portion, to a first interval that corresponds to a rotation speed of the first conveyance member, and when a rear end of the sheet has passed the arrangement position, switches the detection interval to a second interval that corresponds to the rotation speed of the second conveyance member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Mashimo, Toshiaki Mutsuo
  • Patent number: 10273104
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a main chassis having a discharge tray and a switchback tray in an upper position with respect to the discharge tray; an image forming unit; a discharge roller to discharge a recording sheet conveyed through the image forming unit onto the discharge tray; a duplex conveyer to invert the sheet and convey the inverted sheet to return to the image forming unit; and a switchback roller being rotatable in a normal direction to convey the sheet toward the switchback tray and a reverse direction to convey the sheet to the duplex conveyer; is provided. The main chassis includes a pair of walls, each of which extends in a vertical direction and in a conveying direction of the sheet and is arranged in adjacent to the switchback tray such that the switchback tray is interposed between the pair of walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10273105
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a mark sensor, a moving section, a web edge sensor, and a printer control section. The moving section can move the mark sensor in a direction intersecting a transport direction of a sheet, or in a width direction. The web edge sensor can detect a location of an edge of the sheet. The printer control section controls the moving section to compensate for a location of the mark sensor, on the basis of a detection result from the web edge sensor which indicates the location of the edge of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamashita, Tomoyuki Shiiya
  • Patent number: 10273106
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure a device to detect media being wound around a wheel is described. The device includes a reel that collects the media and a movable arm pivotally coupled to the reel to provide tension to the media being wound around the reel. The device also includes a controller that detects media is being wound around the reel by 1) determining an angular position of the movable arm and 2) calculating, based on the angular position of the movable arm, when an output of a motor that rotates the reel is non-zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David Toussaint, Lluis Valles Casanova, Abel Martinez-Guillen, Jerry Claesson
  • Patent number: 10273107
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item in a receptacle are disclosed. Features are disclosed for receiving and guiding an item in a receiving space of a receptacle so as to attenuate or remove the impact force of the item on the receptacle. Some embodiments of the disclosure include a bumper having an impact surface which absorbs most or all of the impact force of the item and thereby mitigates or removes the imposition of cyclic impact loads on the receptacle from repeated receipt of items. The bumper may be structurally and/or functionally de-coupled or otherwise physically separated from the receptacle such that an advantageous division of labor is created between absorbing the impact and receiving the item. This disclosure may be useful, for example, in modern industrial operations where a high volume of items are received daily, such as in mail sorting and handling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, James E. Goodbar, III
  • Patent number: 10273108
    Abstract: A multi-stage sheet ejection device including a tray and a level adjusting structure is provided. The level adjusting structure includes a body and a sliding element. The body has a plurality of stages arranged on a vertical surface of the body in order. The sliding element is disposed on the body and horizontally movable with respect to the vertical surface of the body. Through the movement of the sliding element, the tray can be controlled to move on the vertical surface stage by stage and be supported on one of the stages in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 10273109
    Abstract: A processing apparatus comprises: a conveyance part for conveying a sheet; a processing part including a processing member that is installed in a manner of being movable in an intersecting direction of intersecting with a conveyance direction of the conveyance part and that performs predetermined processing at a predetermined position of the sheet under conveyance; a stacker part for accumulating processing articles obtained by the processing of the processing part; and a control part for controlling the stacker part such as to sort a predetermined amount of precedently ejected ones of the processing articles from the subsequent ones of the processing articles among the processing articles ejected to the stacker part by the conveyance part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Duplo Seiko Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Oguri, Akihiko Toki, Kazuya Takitani, Tomoyuki Nagayama, Akane Tokutake
  • Patent number: 10273110
    Abstract: A device according to one embodiment includes a sidewall defining an interior; at least one cutting channel having, and/or configured to receive, at least one cutting strip; an opening in the sidewall configured to allow a sheet of material to pass therethrough from the interior; a door coupled to the sidewall; and a handle coupled to the sidewall. A device according to another embodiment includes a peripheral sidewall; a lid coupled to an upper edge of the peripheral sidewall, the lid and the peripheral sidewall defining an interior; a bottom edge of the peripheral sidewall defining an opening to the interior, the interior being configured to receive a sheet of material; at least one cutting channel having, and/or configured to receive, at least one cutting strip; and an opening in the lid, the opening being configured to allow the sheet of material to pass therethrough from the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventors: Shaw Osceola Mikel Thompson, Francis L. Bridgeman
  • Patent number: 10273111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device or a pair of devices for lifting, maneuvering, winding or unwinding reels, each comprising a center retractable member having an adjustable length; a first and second angularly-oriented vertical support bar, each pivotally mounted, at its proximal end, on opposite ends of the center retractable member, wherein the first and second angularly-oriented vertical support bars are pivotally joined to each other at their distal ends; a reel support member mounted on the joint of the first and second angularly-oriented vertical support bars, wherein the reel support member is adapted to removably by received by the bore of the reel; and a means for adjusting the length of the center retractable member, thereby moving the reel support member upward and downward, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Russell Paul Grabowski, Xiaokai Niu
  • Patent number: 10273112
    Abstract: A trimmer head assembly for a trimming machine. The trimmer head assembly includes a spool. The spool has a central tubular hub. The spool also has a central flange that radially extends from the hub. A trim line conduit is joined to the central flange. The trim line conduit has a first open end. The first open end leads to a first straight section. The first straight section leads to a curved central section. The curved central section leads to a second straight section. The second straight section leads to a second open end. The curved central section passes around the center of the spool. A housing is provided that receives the spool therein. When loading trimmer line into the trimmer head assembly, the shape of the conduit enables the trimmer line to pass around the central opening in the spool without binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Torvian Inc.
    Inventor: George E. Alliss
  • Patent number: 10273113
    Abstract: Systems and methods for winding wire are disclosed. A system includes a wire take-up unit and a wire tensioning unit. The take-up unit includes a rotating mandrel and a wire directing device, the wire directing device arranged to cause the wire to be wound in a figure-eight configuration on the rotating mandrel to form a coil having many layers of wire. The wire tensioning unit applies tension to said wire as it is wound, and applies a first amount of tension to a predetermined amount of wire constituting at least a first two layers of the coil, and a second amount of tension to the wire beyond the predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the wire tensioning unit includes digital self-relieving air regulator pneumatically coupled to and controlling a pressure in said pressurized chamber of a pre-lubricating cylinder that is coupled to the wire being wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: REELEX Packaging Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank W. Kotzur, Scott Kotzur, Michael Muller
  • Patent number: 10273114
    Abstract: A method for winding can include positioning a multi-sided object on a winding component in a first position. The method can include dereeling a wire from a dereeler and winding onto the multi-sided object in the first position. The method can include rotating the winding component to position the multi-sided object in a second position without removing the multi-sided object from the winding component. The method can include dereeling the wire from the dereeler and winding onto the multi-sided object in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Fishbeck
  • Patent number: 10273115
    Abstract: A headphone reel is disclosed comprising a base having a midpoint about an axis and opposed “L-shaped” flanges extending upwardly and then inwardly toward the midpoint. A spindle, is mounted about the axis between the base and the underside of the inwardly facing flanges. The spindle comprises a central disc segment having an outer circumference. A dial section extends from the top of the disc and has an upper section further extending between and above the flanges, the upper section having slots to receive a loop of the cable. A circumferential shoulder extends outwardly on the dial beneath the flanges. A hollow cylindrical ratchet gear is attached to the underside of the disc, with teeth on the outer surface and a spring catch on the inner surface. The ratchet rests within a semi-circular wall in the base disposed about the axis. A coilable spring connects between the base midpoint and the spring catch to provide rotational force to the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Justin Hanson
  • Patent number: 10273116
    Abstract: An elevator rescue system allows an elevator car of an elevator to be moved in an emergency situation. The elevator includes an elevator motor acting on hoisting ropes by which the elevator car is suspended including at least one electro-mechanical brake and an encoder outputting a signal corresponding to its speed. The rescue system includes a back-up power source, a jerk monitoring circuit connected to the encoder and including a memory storing an upper threshold value for the derivative of car acceleration, a brake feed circuit controlled by the jerk monitoring circuit, and a release switch connected to the jerk monitoring circuit and/or to the brake feed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Arto Nakari
  • Patent number: 10273117
    Abstract: A computer system can be configured to cause a mechanical action based on transient data stored on a user's mobile device. In some examples, the system includes a mobile device finder for receiving calendar information from a mobile device within a physical distance from an elevator system. The calendar information specifies a time and a place of an appointment. The system includes a calendar verifier for determining that the time of the appointment is within a time period from a current time and that the place of the appointment corresponds to a destination floor reachable by the elevator system. The system includes an elevator programmer for programming the elevator system with the destination floor so that, when a user carries the mobile device onto an elevator car of the elevator system, the elevator system controls the elevator car to take the user to the destination floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Brien T. Buckman
  • Patent number: 10273118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device providing traffic forecasts for elevator systems, comprising a data-processing system, wherein the device is designed to establish a data connection between the data-processing system and the elevator system, and wherein the device is designed to establish a data connection between the data-processing system and at least one mobile device, and wherein the device is designed to receive data from the elevator system and/or from at least one mobile device, and wherein the device is designed to send processed data to at least one mobile device. The invention further relates to a method providing traffic forecasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Aki Parviainen
  • Patent number: 10273119
    Abstract: An elevator load weighing system (100) includes a brake assembly (104) configured to apply a braking force that inhibits vertical movement of an elevator car (106), and rotate in response to realizing a torque applied thereto. A position monitoring mechanism (112) is coupled to the brake assembly (104) and is configured to output a position signal in response to a rotation of the brake assembly (104). An electronic elevator control module (102) is configured to determine a zero-torque position of the brake assembly (104) prior to engaging the brake assembly (104). The electronic elevator control module (102) is further configured to detect at least one rotational brake displacement of the brake assembly (104) based on the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: James L. Hubbard, Ismail Agirman, Takashi Onodera
  • Patent number: 10273120
    Abstract: A hoisting device includes a trolley travelling along a support structure, and a hoisting member to be lowered and lifted therefrom by means of hoisting ropes, as well as a current supply cable between the trolley and the hoisting member, wherein the structure of the current supply cable is made to assume a spiral shape such that in an uplifted position it forms an at least substantially flat-spiral structure wherein turns of the spiral structure lie in turns of increasing diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KONECRANES GLOBAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tero Kultanen, Jani Ala-Uotila, Pasi Nokelainen, Veli-Pekka Vuoti