Patents Issued in July 16, 2019
  • Patent number: 10351340
    Abstract: An attachment system for a vehicle includes a lateral member, a plate coupled to the lateral member, and a coupler. The coupler includes a first support coupled to the plate, a second support spaced from the first support, a resilient member disposed between the first support and the second support, and an adjuster configured to facilitate selectively reorienting the second support relative to the first support in a direction along a face of the plate between a first position and a second position. The second support is configured to engage an interface of an attachment when selectively reoriented into the first position and disengage the interface of the attachment when selectively reoriented into the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Haddick, Jarud H. Hoefker, Leslie H. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10351341
    Abstract: A control mechanism for a refuse vehicle includes a first control valve that operates a first hydraulically controlled mechanism and a second control valve that operates a second hydraulically controlled mechanism. The control mechanism also includes a plurality of switches and a pneumatic control mechanism. The plurality of switches generates a valve select signal and a mode signal. The pneumatic control mechanism selectively controls the first control valve and the second control valve based on the valve select signal and the mode signal. An operator of the refuse vehicle actuates the plurality of switches while the operator is operating the pneumatic control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Ralph Waldo Whitfield, Jr., Brian H. Ham, Albert Jiang
  • Patent number: 10351342
    Abstract: The invention relates to a storage rack for accommodating cuboid-shaped piece goods such as loaded standard pallets or standard containers, comprising front and rear vertical support elements (1, 4), storage lanes extending over the rack depth, which are provided with at least two horizontal profiled supporting elements (10), which are arranged parallel to each other, in order to provide supports (11) for the piece goods, and stop elements (7) at the ends of the storage lanes facing away from the placement-into-storage and removal-from-storage ends, wherein the stop elements (7) are located at a level above the level of the supports (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NEDCON B.V.
    Inventors: Edwin Rauwerdink, Mark Assink, Jan Willem Frederiks
  • Patent number: 10351343
    Abstract: A shuttle warehouse for storing load carriers comprises a framework and a gangway, the framework having guide rails designed to guide the movement of a distribution vehicle, designed to physically move the load carriers, in the gangway on a bearing surface of the guide rails. The guide rails are each formed by segments arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails, and the segments are fixed to the framework by press-fit threaded bolts resulting in the upper face of the heads of the press-fit threaded bolts being received in the segments flush with the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BITO-LAGERTECHNIK BITTMANN GMBH
    Inventors: Sascha Neu, Helmut Sponheimer
  • Patent number: 10351344
    Abstract: A pallet transport apparatus within a rack installation oriented orthogonally with a longitudinal x direction, a transverse z direction and a vertical y direction has a travel route in the x direction and in the z direction. In the apparatus, an x traveling mechanism/x wheel units and a z traveling mechanism/z wheel units are designed so as to be vertically moveable in the y direction mechanically independently of one another. The apparatus has an x lifting device for lifting the x traveling mechanism or of the x wheel units in the y direction, a z lifting device for lifting the z traveling mechanism or of the z wheel units, and a y lifting device for moving the pallet pickup unit. The x/z lifting devices can be activated in the y direction independently of one another and independently of the y lifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: GEBHARDT FOERDERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Marco Gebhardt, Christian Schindler, Michael Weber
  • Patent number: 10351345
    Abstract: A system and method for storage and retrieval are provided. The system includes a multi-level storage structure, and mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote, container, or object. This system and method can be used in order-fulfillment applications in which one or more workstations accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a put location, and an input/output interface induct material into the system and discharge fulfilled orders from the system. The mobile robots are further configured to move from level to level in the multi-level storage structure via inclined or vertical tracks without requiring a vertical lift or vertical conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: John Lert, William J. Fosnight
  • Patent number: 10351346
    Abstract: A goods-to-man warehousing system comprises a multilevel racking system, a plurality of mobile storage units, a storage unit transporter, a pick-place vehicle, a mobile storage unit transfer node, and a warehouse management computing hub. The multilevel racking system comprises a vertically and horizontally distributed array of storage bays. One or more of the mobile storage units are positioned in respective ones of the storage bays of the multilevel racking system. The pick-place vehicle comprises pick-place hardware that enables the pick-place vehicle to transfer mobile storage units between a plurality of different, vertically displaced storage bays of the multilevel racking system and the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system. The storage unit transporter comprises storage unit engagement hardware that enables the storage unit transporter to transport mobile storage units to or from the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Otto, Gregory S. Garmann, Mark E. Addison
  • Patent number: 10351347
    Abstract: Methods and systems for in route mail sorting and packaging are disclosed. One aspect disclosed is a vehicle including a freight bay. The freight bay includes a plurality of item storage bins. The freight bay also includes a robot. The robot includes a means for grasping items and moving them between the item storage bins. For example, the robot may include an item manipulating attachment that in some aspects may include two or more extending portions for grasping items. The robot may assemble item packages from a plurality of individual items based on addresses of the items. The robot may also manipulate shrink wrap around the item package and position the item package within a station that heats the package and causes the shrink wrap to shrink around the items in the package, thereby forming the items into a package that is easy to deliver to a single address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E Dixon, Jr., Gregory Cooil
  • Patent number: 10351348
    Abstract: A lifting device includes a body or frame, a track, a lifting mechanism having a trolley moveable relative to the track for lifting an object, a main set of wheels coupled to a base portion of the body/frame, a maneuvering set of wheels coupled to the base portion between at least a portion of the main set of wheels and the trolley and vertically offset from the main set of wheels, and at least one arm extending outwardly from the base portion. The vertical offset between the main set and the maneuvering set of wheels forms a two stage lever which improves the mechanical advantage of the lifting device, thereby decreasing the amount of force needed to recline the object being lifted by the lifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SOUTHWORTH PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark W. Lilley
  • Patent number: 10351349
    Abstract: An endless chain conveyor is disclosed having an endless chain that rides on a rail with sprockets at each end of the rail. The chain is installed on the rail in tension. The conveyor does not otherwise require an adjustment mechanism for taking the slack out of the chain after it is installed on the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Keith Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Tim Toth
  • Patent number: 10351350
    Abstract: This table circulation guide device includes sliders and carriage attached to a table. In a working area, the table is guided by the sliders straddling straight track rails. In a non-working area, the table is guided by the carriages traveling on a curved track rail. An endless circulation circuit is formed by the straight track rails and the curved track rail. In the working area of the circuit, the table travels via the sliders straddling the straight track rails. In the non-working area of the circuit, the table travels via the carriages located between the sliders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuguyoshi Nara, Masashi Matsui, Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 10351351
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for regulating the operation of a stripping device on a conveyor belt (1) of a conveyor belt system for transported material (6), wherein, in order to strip transported material (6) adhering to the conveyor belt (1), a stripping segment (9) of the stripping device (8) is advanced onto the conveyor belt (1) with its stripping edge (10) by an advancing drive (13) and at least the advancing force with which the advancing drive (13) advances the at least one stripping segment (9) onto the conveyor belt (1) is regulated as a regulating variable by an electronic controller (14) on the basis of the value, determined by at least one sensor (15), of at least one guide variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: F. E. SCHULTE STRATHAUS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Schulte Strathaus, Harald P. Mathis, Andreas Haase, Marcus Stiemer, Marco Rozgic
  • Patent number: 10351352
    Abstract: A device and method for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the method being intended for use with axisymmetric preforms having an annular supporting face. The method includes a first step of discharging the preforms in bulk onto a rotating horizontal platen; a second step of aligning the preforms against a fixed peripheral rail by way of the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the rotating platen; a third step of successively righting the aligned preforms by tilting the preform bodies, performed under the annular supporting face. During the second alignment step, the main axis of the preforms is oriented essentially tangentially to the direction of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Denis Doudement, Anthony Debris, Frederic Willig, Eric Mazo
  • Patent number: 10351353
    Abstract: A conveyor has looped conveying belts extending between grooved inlet and outlet rollers mounted to a frame, these rollers driven by motorized drive rollers. Each belt has an outwardly facing surface which engages a conveyed article, and an inwardly extending protrusion which engages the grooves of rollers rotatably mounted between parallel plates. The plates extend downwardly to be fixed to cross members which extend between the sides of the frame. A subframe supports upper rolls which are driven by belts connected to lower rolls, including motorized drive rolls. The subframe is mounted to an elevator platform to move the upper rolls between a retracted position and an extended position in which the upper rolls extend beyond the conveying belts which pass through gaps between the upper rolls, such that a conveyed article is moved by the upper rolls in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the conveying belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SKARLUPKA MFG., INC.
    Inventor: Donald Bruce Skarlupka
  • Patent number: 10351354
    Abstract: A lifting facility for a workpiece is provided in a drying furnace for drying the workpiece, and comprises: a drop lift that conveys the workpiece so as to raise and lower the workpiece between one of a carrying-in position at which the workpiece is carried in the drying furnace and a carrying-out position at which the workpiece is carried out from the drying furnace and a high-temperature zone which is formed above the carrying-in position and the carrying-out position and in which the workpiece is dried; and a strut that supports the drop lift so as to raise and lower the drop lift. The strut is extended to the high-temperature zone in the drying furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ueda, Kiyotoku Sone, Jun Kimura
  • Patent number: 10351355
    Abstract: Apparatus for automatic adjustment of guide rails for guiding articles on a conveyor via lanes is provided. The apparatus includes spaced apart first and second tracks, a carriage for driven travel along the first track, and a guide rail hanger for select slaved travel along the second track by the carriage in furtherance of lane adjustment. The guide rail hanger is operatively linked with a guide rail hanger positioning bar for select reversible affixation with respect thereto in furtherance of establishing a fixed guide rail position relative to the conveyor. A latch assembly, supported by the carriage, has a latch selectively operable for captured carrying of the guide rail hanger along the second track during travel of said carriage, the latch effectuating release of an affixed guide rail hanger from the guide rail hanger positioning bar in furtherance of enabling relocating and re-affixing the guide rail hanger relative to the guide rail hanger positioning bar in advance of captured carrying thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Toyli, Richard W. Lukanen, Jr., Christopher D. Harren, Kevin P. Herickhoff
  • Patent number: 10351356
    Abstract: An egg transfer system is provided. Such a system includes a first securing arrangement configured to engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is capable of being seated within the first securing arrangement. A second securing arrangement is opposingly positioned with respect to the first securing arrangement, the second securing arrangement being configured to engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is capable of being seated within the second securing arrangement. The first and second securing arrangements are configured to interact through relative movement with respect to one another, such interaction thereby causing an egg to be transferred therebetween. Associated systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC
    Inventor: William Dongwook Suh
  • Patent number: 10351357
    Abstract: An end effector assembly including an elongate arm plate and one or more manifold cradle assemblies movable along the elongate arm plate. The one or more manifold cradle assemblies are repositionable between a first spaced-apart configuration and a second spaced-apart configuration, and at least one engagement member is provided with each manifold cradle assembly that can be oriented in either a picking orientation or a placing orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: CONTAINER AUTOMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan G. Grovijohn, Mark T. Jackson, Richard E. Chitwood
  • Patent number: 10351358
    Abstract: A magnetic drive transmission method includes the steps of: disposing solid magnetic device and ring-shaped magnetic device at top and bottom surfaces of work platform, while keeping the solid magnetic device in axial alignment with the hollow inner diameter of the ring-shaped magnetic device the solid magnetic device enters within the magnetic field lines of the ring-shaped magnetic device so as to create a magnetic field downstream between the solid magnetic device and the ring-shaped magnetic device that changes the thrust of the same polarity repulsion and to further cause the solid magnetic device and the ring-shaped magnetic device to attract each other in a balanced manner, and then using the ring-shaped magnetic device to drive the solid magnetic device in moving a predetermined workpiece along one surface of the work platform to a predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: USUN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chiu-Fong Huang, Hsiang-Yueh Yu
  • Patent number: 10351359
    Abstract: A device for quickly deploying and collecting visible markers is disclosed. Visible markers can include a base that can support an upright flag for use in sports training, marketing, or traffic/emergency situations. The device for retaining the bases can be comprised of a frame having two vertical legs joined by a horizontal member, which can serve as a handle, at a top portion of each of the two vertical legs. A foot is attached to the bottom end of each of the two vertical legs, each of the feet are at an angle to the corresponding vertical leg to allow feet to be received in apertures of a base device and the angle of the feet retain the base device on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Alix Harley
  • Patent number: 10351360
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for print media buffering and sorting. An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during an operation includes an enclosure, a storage section within the enclosure, an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element, a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lightning Source LLC
    Inventors: Peter Kubiak, Josef Martin Strasser
  • Patent number: 10351361
    Abstract: A ship loading system for loading fluidizable materials into a ship's hold is described. The system comprises a self-supporting tubular boom that is attached to a support tower at a single attachment point. An air gravity conveyor is enclosed within the tubular boom for materials from the vicinity of the support tower to the ship's hold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventors: Leslie Bartholomew, David Bergenstock, Louis DiBuo, Joseph Novicki
  • Patent number: 10351362
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a transfer apparatus includes a gripper, a first driving mechanism, an elastic passive joint part, a conveyor, a second driving mechanism, and base. The gripper grips an article. The first driving mechanism linearly moves the gripper in at least two directions including a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The elastic passive joint part is interposed between the gripper and the first driving mechanism, and operates in accordance with an operation of the gripper. The conveyor conveys the article. The second driving mechanism linearly moves the conveyor in the at least two directions, and is connected to the conveyor. The base supports the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Junya Tanaka, Kazuo Watabe, Akihito Ogawa, Hideichi Nakamoto, Takafumi Sonoura, Haruna Eto
  • Patent number: 10351363
    Abstract: A silo, a chemical delivery system, and a method. The silo includes a housing and a vessel positioned within the housing and configured to contain a mud chemical. The vessel includes a discharge port and a discharge valve that controls discharge of the mud chemical through the discharge port. The discharge port is configured to connect to a skid by placing the silo on the skid, and the silo has a plurality of configurations for different types of mud chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacques Orban, Brian Rogers
  • Patent number: 10351364
    Abstract: An equipment control system detects a physical position of a first vehicle, carrying a material to deliver, relative to a second vehicle. A physical position of a conveyor is controlled, relative to an outlet opening defined on the first vehicle and an inlet opening defined on the second vehicle. The material is then illustratively automatically conveyed from the first vehicle to the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Green, Michael E. Frasier
  • Patent number: 10351365
    Abstract: A truck dumper including a material receiving hopper, a tilt table configured to dump a load from the truck or truck trailer into the material receiving hopper. The invention includes a stilling shed positioned above the material receiving hopper and at least one curtain baffle suspended below the roof of the stilling shed. The curtain baffles are positioned such that there is a gap located near the roof and an upper margin of the at least one curtain baffle through which air can flow. The invention further includes an air exhaust structure configured to exhaust dust laden air from the interior of the stilling shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Air Cure Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael R. Harris
  • Patent number: 10351366
    Abstract: A manual tray device comprises a tray storage body; a tray main body rotatably supported on the tray storage body with a lower end side as a rotation fulcrum; an assistance tray arranged at an upstream side of the tray main body in a sheet feed direction; a rotation regulation link, one end part side of the rotation regulation link being rotatably supported on the tray storage body, the other end part side being slidably supported on the tray main body in a predetermined stroke range; and an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock displacement of the other end part side of the rotation regulation link with forward and backward displacement of the assistance tray. The assistance tray protrudes from the tray main body in a state where rotation of the tray main body in the opening direction is regulated by the rotation regulation link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuya Oshida
  • Patent number: 10351367
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a media tray assembly for use in an imaging device includes a media width adjuster having a bottom portion and a top portion. The top portion of the media width adjuster is extendable between a first stable position and a second stable position. The media tray assembly also includes a tension spring to drive the top portion to the stable positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Layce Barmaki, Randall West, Jesse Phillips
  • Patent number: 10351368
    Abstract: A sheet feed device includes: a stacking tray on which sheets are stacked in such a manner as to be capable of being lifted and lowered; and an opening/closing member. When the opening/closing member is open, a sheet stacking surface on which the sheets are stacked is positioned at a position higher, in an upper and lower direction of the sheet feed device, than an uppermost portion of the opening/closing member in the upper and lower direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junya Masuda
  • Patent number: 10351369
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a tray capable of stacking plural sheets, and four wires with one end of each of them being connected to a corresponding one of portions at four corners of the tray. On the downstream side of the tray concerning a sheet feeding direction, the other end of each of two wires is connected via pulleys provided above the tray. A winding unit in the apparatus vertically moves the tray hung by the four wires by winding up or rolling down the two wires. On a side opposite to the side of the tray where the connecting portion to which one end of each of the two wires connected to the winding unit is connected, the other end of each of the remaining two wires are connected via pulleys provided above and below the tray, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.
    Inventor: Shota Odajima
  • Patent number: 10351370
    Abstract: A sheet-supply tray device for use with an image recording apparatus, includes a lower sheet-supply tray and an upper sheet-supply tray. The upper sheet-supply tray includes a main body, a leading-end stopper, a trailing-end stopper and a side-end stopper. The main body includes a support surface that supports a recording sheet. The leading-end stopper is fixed on the main body and stops a leading end of the recording sheet. The trailing-end stopper includes a trailing-end contact surface having a trailing-end protrusion extending over an upper surface of a trailing-end portion of the recording sheet toward the leading-end stopper. The trailing-end contact surface contacts a trailing end of the recording sheet. The side-end stopper includes a side-end contact surface that contacts a side end of the recording sheet. The side-end contact surface has at least one side-end protrusion extending over an upper surface of a side-end portion of the recording sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
  • Patent number: 10351371
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes: a loading unit configured to load a plurality of sheet-like media in a stacked state; a feeding roller configured to feed the media by rotating while abutting against the media loaded on the loading unit; an arm configured to rotatably support the feeding roller and configured to be swingable about a support shaft; at least one actuator supported by the arm to be swingable about a fulcrum provided between the support shaft and a leading end of the arm, the arm being on the same side as the feeding roller with respect to the support shaft and being farthest away from the support shaft; and at least one sensor configured to output a signal which differentiates a first posture of the at least one actuator with respect to the arm, from a second posture different from the first posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Aoki, Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 10351372
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a tray and a body supporting the tray. The tray is pivotable about a first shaft between a first position at which a free end of the tray is located above its basal end and a second position at which the free end is located farther from the body than at the first position. The tray is slidable between the second position and a third position and pivotable about a second shaft between the third position and a fourth position at which the free end is located farther from the body than at the third position. The first shaft protrudes from one of the tray and the body toward the other. The second shaft protrudes from the other to the one. The other includes a first guide that guides the first shaft. The one includes a second guide that guides the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Wakakusa
  • Patent number: 10351373
    Abstract: In a banknote pay-in/pay-out device (10) of an ATM (1), respective pawl portions (42) are provided at upper ends of a front storage box conveyance guide (32) and a rear storage box conveyance guide (33) provided to a front storage box conveyance guide (32) of a banknote storage box (26). In each pawl portion (42), plural pawl bodies (43) are discretely disposed along a left-right direction. In each pawl body (43), a guide plate (51) looking onto a conveyance space (34) is connected to an upper end of a main body (41), a facing plate (52) is connected to an upper-side edge of the guide plate (51), and a left-side plate (53) and a right-side plate (54) are respectively connected to the left and right edges of the guide plate (51). This increases the strength of the guide plates (51) of the pawl bodies (43) such that damage to the pawl bodies (43) as a result of collisions with other members or the like can be prevented, and enables banknotes to be guided smoothly in the banknote pay-in/pay-out device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hosokawa, Masaaki Okamoto, Yoshitoshi Takefushi
  • Patent number: 10351374
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises sheet storage for storing a sheet, a merging conveying unit for feeding the sheet from the sheet storage to an image forming apparatus, a transmitting element for transmitting an ultrasonic signal to the sheet conveyed on the merging conveying unit, and a receiving element for receiving the ultrasonic signal having passed through the sheet and outputting an output signal according to strength of the received ultrasonic signal. When the sheet is a Japanese paper, the sheet feeding device detects double feeding of the sheet according to an average value of a plurality of the output signals and variation in a plurality of the output signals obtained for the one sheet. If the sheet is not double fed, the sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus. If the sheet is double fed, the sheet is discharged to the escape tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuro Fukusaka
  • Patent number: 10351375
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is described. The sheet processing apparatus includes a housing section, a conveyance mechanism and a controller. The housing section accommodates a sheet. The conveyance mechanism conveys the sheet accommodated in the housing section to a predetermined position at the downstream side in a sheet conveyance direction. The controller controls the conveyance mechanism to remove a needle-free binding section of a sheet bundle if a conveyance jam of the sheet occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 10351376
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a w winder (1) for winding a web roll (2) from a fibrous web such as a paper web or a web of non-woven material paper (2). The winder (1) comprises two support rolls (3, 4) for supporting the web roll (2) during reeling and a core shaft (5) for winding the paper reel (2). At each longitudinal end of the core shaft (5), there is a carrier chuck (6) in which the core shaft (5) is rotatably journalled. The carrier chucks to are arranged to be movable in a frame towards or away from the support rolls (3, 4) and a rider roll (8) is arranged to be capable of acting against the web roll (2) being wound. The rider roll (8) is carried by a rider roll beam (9) and the rider roll beam (9) is arranged to be movable in the frame (7) such that the rider roll (8) can be moved towards or away from the support rolls (3, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: VALMET S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Bartolini
  • Patent number: 10351377
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing the tail end of a spirally wound roll of nonwoven, polymer-based material to the roll to preclude unintended unwinding of the roll, the apparatus comprising a winding assembly for forming about a winding axis a spirally wound roll with a tail end, a fixture for a roll tacking assembly with an ultrasonic tool oscillating on an oscillating axis, and a fixture for moving the tool into momentary tangential contact with an outermost winding layer of the roll in a manner that orients the oscillating axis orthogonally to the winding axis. The apparatus implements a method of locating the tail end of the spirally wound roll and orienting the tail end in relation to the securing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventors: John Madden Mathy, Jr., Michael Carl Chase, Zakari Hinton Snell, John J. Markle, II
  • Patent number: 10351378
    Abstract: An apparatus can control the movement of a substrate through a manufacturing process. The apparatus can transport the substrate in the machine direction of the manufacturing process and can control the movement of the substrate in the cross-machine direction as well as the z-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Marrano, Daniel M. Nussbaum, Scott C. Locy
  • Patent number: 10351379
    Abstract: Provided is a paper-discharge apparatus that suppresses operating sound of the paper-discharge apparatus. A contact member changes the posture of the introduction guide by coming in contact with the introduction lever and rotating the introduction lever. A control unit sets a state in which paper is introduced to the paper-discharge-conveying unit to a non-contact state of the introduction lever and contact member, and sets a state when conveyed paper is guided to another discharge destination to a contact state of the introduction lever and the contact member. The control unit rotates the motor at a first speed and moves the contact member, and brings the contact member in contact with the introduction lever after setting the rotating speed of the motor to a second speed that is slower than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiichi Shirasaki
  • Patent number: 10351380
    Abstract: A diverter conveyor includes a frame supporting an upper conveyor that has an upstream end and a downstream end and that is configured to carry sheets in a first, downstream, direction. A plurality of nip rollers are mounted on the frame upstream of the upstream end of the upper conveyor and are spaced from the upstream end of the upper conveyor by a gap. The nip rollers feed the sheets along a main path to the upstream end of the upper conveyor. A rejection conveyor is supported by the frame and has a portion beneath the gap and extends away from the upper conveyor at an acute angle. A plurality of paddles are mounted at the first gap, and an actuator is operably connected to the paddles and configured to shift the paddles from a first position out of the main path to a second position in the main path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric Stempihar, Dalton Hege, Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 10351381
    Abstract: The present application discloses a post-processing apparatus which performs a predetermined process after an image formation process performed by an image formation apparatus. The post-processing apparatus includes an ejection tray, which supports a sheet stack, in which sheets are stacked, and a curl prevention portion including a first tray cursor, which abuts an upper surface of the sheet stack on the ejection tray to prevent the sheet stack from curling. The curl prevention portion includes an angle changer, which changes an inclination angle of the first tray cursor with respect to the ejection tray. The angle changer sets the inclination angle to a first value when a number of sheets is a first number. The angle changer sets the inclination angle to a second value different from the first value when the number of the sheets is a second number different from the first number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10351382
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet processing apparatus, including: a placement portion to which a sheet conveyed by a conveyance portion in a conveyance direction is placed; a processing portion configured to perform predetermined processing on a sheet placed on the placement portion, and to be movable in a predetermined moving range; and a control portion configured to control the processing portion to position, at a timing at which a sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion passes through the moving range, from a first position of preventing from interfering with the sheet to a second position of performing the predetermined processing on a preceding sheet having been conveyed by the conveyance portion and placed on the placement portion before the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.
    Inventors: Shintaro Moriya, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Hiroshi Amano, Seiji Ono, Ichiro Yoda, Masao Ueno
  • Patent number: 10351383
    Abstract: To effectively correct a sheet that is transported while being skewed, a post-processing apparatus B provided with a processing tray 25 that temporarily stores a sheet to perform post-processing and a stack tray 30 that loads sheets subjected to the post-processing performs preliminary alignment with one of an alignment mechanism 35 on the processing tray 25 side and an alignment mechanism 38 on the stack tray 30 side corresponding to size information of a sheet in transporting the sheet from the stack tray 30 side toward the processing tray 25 for post-processing in a post-processing device 31, and takes in the sheet toward a regulation stopper 29 with a take-in roller 33. Then, after aligning the sheet with the alignment mechanism 35, the apparatus performs the post-processing on the sheet with the sheet post-processing device 31 to transport to the stack tray 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Minori Furiya
  • Patent number: 10351384
    Abstract: A linear body that may be smoothly removed from a bobbin. The bobbin includes a guide tube, a pair of flanges provided on the ends of the guide tube, and a winding drum sandwiched between the pair of flanges. One flange is removably attached to one end of the guide tube and the other flange is fixedly secured to the other end of said guide tube. The winding drum includes a plurality of split drum plates separated by a plurality of slits. A biasing mechanism for biasing each split drum plate inwardly is provided. When the detachable flange has been attached, the split drum plates are supported at both ends from the inner side thereof by supporting projections on the inner surface of each of the flanges. When the detachable flange is removed, the split drum plates move inwardly owing to the respective biasing mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: TOKYO ROPE MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., GOHDA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsugu Gohda, Toru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10351385
    Abstract: A pawl-less retractable comprises an inner frame with a drum-sperrad assembly mounted to the inner frame between side members of the frame to rotate relative to the frame. The inner frame is pivotally mounted to a stop cap above the drum-sperrad assembly such that the frame, and hence the drum-sperrad assembly, can pivot relative to the stop cap. The stop cap comprises a central body, a leading wing extending from a first side of the central body and a trailing wing extending from a second side of the central body opposite said first side. In use, the inner frame and drum-sperrad assembly can pivot relative to the stop cap or alternatively an outer frame, between an unlocked position in which the teeth of the sperrad are inside of an engagement zone circle and a locked position in which the teeth are outside of the engagement zone circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Reliance Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Gary E. Choate
  • Patent number: 10351386
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method of initiating elevator service by entering an elevator call with a call input device operating a program including a plurality of graphical objects displayed on a graphic user interface, in communication with an elevator system. The method includes the steps: selecting a first floor graphical object from the plurality of graphical objects; and selecting a second floor graphical object from the plurality of graphical objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric C. Peterson, Ashley Chapman
  • Patent number: 10351387
    Abstract: An elevator with a brake device may be configured to provide a variable brake force, from a minimum brake force up to a maximum brake force (Vmax). The brake device may include a first energy store that provides the maximum brake force and a second energy store that provides an adjustable counterforce. The adjustable counterforce may be directed in an opposed manner with respect to the maximum brake force provided from the first energy store. Further, the variable brake force may amount to a difference between the maximum brake force and the adjustable counterforce. In some cases, the first energy store may comprise a compression spring for providing the maximum brake force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Eduard Steinhauer, Thomas Kuczera
  • Patent number: 10351388
    Abstract: A first adjustable cabin rail guide is moveably attached to a structural member of an elevator cabin. A second adjustable cabin rail guide is similarly moveably attached to a structural member of an elevator cabin. The first and second adjustable cabin rail guides cooperate together to reduce sound and increase operational efficiency. A piece of textile or similar material is attached to a tube forming the friction portion of the guide. The use of textile thereby reduces the sound of the travel upon the rail associated with the inner portion of the elevator cylinder as the cabin transits therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventors: Carlos M. Ascua, Juan Carlos de Ledebur
  • Patent number: 10351389
    Abstract: This invention is concerning a car suspending pulley device including a pair of beams provided parallel to each other on a lower portion of a car and a car suspending pulley arranged between the pair of beams and supported by the pair of beams. A weight suspending pulley is provided on a counterweight. The car and the counterweight are suspended from a main rope wrapped around the car suspending pulley and the weight suspending pulley. A compensating member is suspended between the beams and the counterweight. The compensating member includes a funicular body having a first end portion connected to only one of the pair of beams and a second end portion connected to the counterweight. The first end portion of the funicular body is located in a region of the one beam when viewed in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunio Kato