Patents Issued in August 4, 2020
  • Patent number: 10730681
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a food package. In an embodiment, the food package includes a microcapillary sheet having a first end and a second end and opposing surfaces. The microcapillary sheet includes a matrix composed of a polymeric material and a plurality of channels. The channels are disposed in parallel in the matrix and between the opposing surfaces. The channels extend from the first end to the second end of the microcapillary sheet. The microcapillary sheet includes a perforation traversing at least two channels. The perforation extends from a surface of the microcapillary sheet and through a wall of the at least two channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Marcos P. Franca, Bruno R. Pereira, Wenyi Huang, Susan L. Jordan, Jaime L. Curtis-Fisk
  • Patent number: 10730682
    Abstract: A container system having at least two containers, preferably bottles, each of which has a removal opening, preferably closed off by a septum in each case, wherein the containers have, on a side remote from the respective removal opening, particularly on the bottom of the respective bottle, a connecting arrangements for providing a fluidic connection between the containers, and/or having at least one container which forms a removal opening. The container has, on a side remote from the removal opening, a removable, cap-shaped cover which forms a holding device, for a region of the container forming the removal opening, so that the cover can be used as a support foot for the container when it is held by the holding device in the region forming the removal opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM VETMEDICA GMBH
    Inventors: Marcus Rainer Rahmel, Guido Endert, Jonas Ruf, Horst Wergen
  • Patent number: 10730683
    Abstract: An insulated box assembly includes a box, the box including a pair of opposing main box panels, a pair of opposing side box panels, each side box panel of the pair of side box panels attached to both main box panels of the pair of main box panels, and a bottom box panel; and an insulated liner, the insulated liner including a pair of opposing main liner panels, a pair of opposing side liner panels, and a liner bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt Retail Specialties, LLC
    Inventors: Jamie Waltermire, Paul Ott
  • Patent number: 10730684
    Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container assembly has a generally box-shaped form. The lid of the box defines a work surface on which to place objects such as foodstuffs and beverages. The work surface may be formed in a substantially rigid molded stiffener member, and may be divided into sub-regions with raised retainers to discourage sliding of objects where not precisely level. It may have an upstanding peripheral retainer. The work surface may be sunken relative to the periphery of the lid assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Mitchell, Mike Baatz, William Kearns, Christopher Edwards, Melvin Mogil, Richard Stephens, Alexander Barattin, Jingchao Wu
  • Patent number: 10730685
    Abstract: A system for holding multiple beverage containers may include a cooler or carrier with toting handles, closing tabs, and base. The base may be formed from a molded plastic, rubber or synthetic rubber material. The base may also include feet that hold the base a sufficient height from the ground. The base may have a generally conic tapering drain floor that makes up its top surface. The tapering drain floor may make draining the carrier easier by directing water toward a drain hole located in the base. Extending up from the base may be a multi-layer soft-sided wall where different layers perform different desired functions. For example, an inside layer closest to the internal cavity may be a waterproof layer, a middle layer may be an insulating layer, and an external layer may be a decorative layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Lightbulb Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Shawn A. Roberts, Laura J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10730686
    Abstract: A confectionary item dispenser include a dispenser housing having a dispenser housing opening, a reservoir within the dispenser housing having a reservoir chute aligned with the dispenser housing opening, and a dispenser shield disposed within the dispenser housing and movable so that a dispenser shield opening can align with the dispenser housing opening and the reservoir chute at a dispensing position to dispense a confectionary item. An indeterminate outcome actuation mechanism with an actuation mechanism input device causes the dispenser shield to move between the dispensing position and a non-dispensing position when the actuation mechanism input device is displaced such that the dispenser shield may be disposed in one of the dispensing position and the non-dispensing position when the actuation mechanism input device is displaced so that a confectionary item may or may not be dispensed each time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: My Favorite Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Wright, Mark Eisenberg
  • Patent number: 10730687
    Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus includes a carousel and an upper casing with a dispensing face including a dispensing orifice through which the articles are dispensed. The carousel includes plural holding sections for holding the articles to be dispensed and is rotationally movable. A controller controls application of a force to cause the carousel to rotate relative to the dispensing face when an instruction to dispense an article is received. When the carousel is moved so that one of its holding sections having an article therein is aligned with the dispensing orifice, the article is allowed to be dispensed therethrough. A locking mechanism selectively engages the carousel to prevent any relative movement of the carousel when the article dispensing unit is not mounted on the main housing and disengages from the carousel to allow intended relative movement when the article dispensing unit is mounted on the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: RxCap Inc.
    Inventors: David MacVittie, Hale Kpetigo, Michael A. Furlotti
  • Patent number: 10730688
    Abstract: A particulate material dispenser including a longitudinally extending body having a longitudinally extending base element; a tubular element extending longitudinally from the base element such that an inner wall of the tubular element defines a first cavity; a capping element which is distanced longitudinally from an end of the tubular element; a common outer wrapper which is engaged around the base element, the tubular element and the capping element, the inner wall of the common outer wrapper defining a second cavity between the tubular element and the capping element; and snuff within both the first cavity and the second cavity. The base element and/or the tubular element is porous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ESSENTRA FILTER PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT CO. PTE. LTD
    Inventors: James Reed, Paul Clarke, Evgenia Menon, Gary Fulcher, Lee O'Donovan
  • Patent number: 10730689
    Abstract: A protective phone cover dispenser dispenses sleeves that isolate a phone from contaminants in the external environment. The dispenser has a container, a storage compartment, a set of protective covers, an access hole, and an external device coupler. the storage compartment is located within the container and acts as a holding chamber for the set of protective covers. Each of the protective covers is a sleeve that is used to envelop the phone. Thus, isolating the phone from contaminants in the external environment. The access hole traverses through the container into the interior compartment so that a user is able to retrieve the protective covers stored within the interior compartment. The external device coupler is mounted onto the exterior surface of the container and is positioned offset from the access hole. Thus, the dispenser can be mounted onto an external structure without hindering the user from retrieving protective covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Albert Yancy
  • Patent number: 10730690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking feature for an aerosol dispenser head having a locking feature incorporating a locking yoke that requires multiple motions to unlock, and a single motion to reengage the locking feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Silgan Dispensing Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph K. Dodd, Brian K. Van Houten
  • Patent number: 10730691
    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. The side wall is dimensioned to be contacted by an enclosing member of the beverage preparation machine on closure of the enclosing member to buckle the side wall to form a valley zone bridging the enclosing member. The side wall is adapted such that said valley zone forms at least one sealing interface between the enclosing member and the side wall. A capsule and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Andrew Halliday, Esak Shabudin, Simon Jelley, Stuart Banister
  • Patent number: 10730692
    Abstract: A drip bag with hook members adhered to the outer surfaces of two opposing-face sheets of a bag body is configured to increase the area of an opening of the bag body and stabilize the shape of the opening. A drip bag has a body formed of a water-permeable filtering sheet, an upper end to be opened, and hook members formed of a thin plate-shaped material and provided on outer surfaces of two opposing-face sheets of the bag body. The hook member includes: an upper-stuck part adhered to the bag body along the opening; a center part below the upper-stuck part at the center in the width direction thereof and formed so as not to be pulled out from the bag body; and a hook part not adhered to the bag body. First oblique folding lines and second oblique holding lines are formed on the upper-stuck part by respective angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: OHKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akiko Miyawaki, Mitsunori Saitoh
  • Patent number: 10730693
    Abstract: Bins for storing and/or dispensing a material, such as preferably a flowable material. In some embodiments, the bin may comprise a body comprising an inner storage chamber configured to receive and store a flowable material therein. A forklift base may be coupled to the body and may comprise one or more pairs of forklift slots configured to receive forks of a forklift to allow the storage bin to be lifted and transported. A dispensing gate may be slidably positioned adjacent to a dispensing opening in the body to allow for positioning between a closed configuration in which the flowable material is blocked from being dispensed from the inner storage chamber and an open configuration in which the dispensing gate is moved away from the dispensing opening to allow the flowable material to exit the inner storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: 20/20 CUSTOM MOLDED PLASTICS, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Earl Ernsberger
  • Patent number: 10730694
    Abstract: A collection mechanism for a side loading refuse collection vehicle that can move both horizontally and vertically to service multiple compartments designed for specific types of refuse or recyclables. A grabber assembly can move horizontally on a rail in either a lowered position or in a raised dumping position. The grabber assembly can move vertically on a mast. Preferably a sprocket wheel and a track are utilized to move the grabber assembly vertically from a street position to a dumping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Kann Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Goedken, Jared Rowland, Marlin Johnson, Roger Taake
  • Patent number: 10730695
    Abstract: A side-loading robotic arm for use with front-end loaders. The robotic arm is configured for disposition forward of a liftable container. The robotic arm includes a tip arm that is pivotable between a stowed position and an operational position. The stowed position stores the tip arm and gripper arms inside a vertical plane of the lifting forks of the front-end loader. Preferably, the tip arm and gripper arms are disposed in a cut-out recess on a sidewall of the liftable container. The operational position extends the tip arm and gripper arms outside of the vertical plane of the major lifting arms of the front-end loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Anthony Stephen Kouri
  • Patent number: 10730696
    Abstract: An order picking system includes an automated guided trolley with at least two rolling wheels for taking objects of an order from at least one rack and two posts. The automated guided trolley includes climbing elements, which are adapted to cooperate with the posts so as to enable the trolley to rise along the post and prevent the tilting of the trolley, and which includes at least one counter-wheel intended to roll on one of the posts, mounted on a movable bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: EXOTEC SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Romain Moulin, Renaud Heitz
  • Patent number: 10730697
    Abstract: Provided is an article transport apparatus which can transfer an article to a transfer target portion at a low height. A movable member having a support portion includes a transfer mechanism for moving an article between the support portion and a transfer target portion. The transfer mechanism includes an interlocking portion capable of being interlocked with an article along the front-and-back direction, a first guide portion for guiding the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction, and a second actuator for moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The transfer mechanism moves an article between the support portion and the transfer target portion by moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The first guide portion and the second actuator are located higher than an article supported by the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ueda, Masashige Iwata, Akira Emoto
  • Patent number: 10730698
    Abstract: Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Fulfil Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Almogy, Jason Kalus, Nathan Beckett, David Cameron Hosken
  • Patent number: 10730699
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a first independently operable section having a first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions, and a second independently operable section in communication with the first independently operable section and having a second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions. The first and second independently operable sections are configured to provide a respective number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions so that the first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions substantially matches the second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Larry Sweet, Kil Kwak, Kirill Pankratov, Russell G. Barbour, William Johnson, Juergen D. Conrad, Juergen Baumbach, Ronald Kyslinger
  • Patent number: 10730700
    Abstract: A spiral conveyor system may include a drum associated with a motor, wherein the drum extends from a drum bottom to a drum top. In addition, the system may include a conveyor belt traveling helically about the drum from an entrance end of the drum to an exit end of the drum. Further, the system may include a rib associated with the drum, wherein the rib extends radially from a surface of the drum, and at least one drive face positioned on the rib. The conveyor belt may include at least one belt surface configured to engage the at least one drive face. The length of the rib extends along the length of the drum from a first end of the rib to a terminus of the rib proximate the entrance end of the drum. In addition, the drum includes a ring that extends between the terminus of the rib and the entrance end of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ASHWORTH BROS., INC.
    Inventors: Darroll Joseph Neely, Bryan Hobbs
  • Patent number: 10730701
    Abstract: Spiral conveyors have a drive drum, wherein the drive drum comprises a plurality of drive drum bars connected around an outer perimeter of the drive drum, wherein a drive rod on a drive drum bar is distally located on the outer perimeter of the drive drum, wherein the drive drum bar comprises the drive rod; a face plate; and a support rib, wherein the support rib is connected to the drive rod through standoffs, and the face plate is located between the drive rod and the support rib, and the face plate is separated from the drive rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Westcott, Adam J. Ramsdell, Scott M. Kane, Ryan C. Harrell, John J. Bauer, Robert C. Brod
  • Patent number: 10730702
    Abstract: A floor conveyor has a conveyed object support base portion supported on a conveying traveling body via a columnar support member that penetrates, in a vertical direction, a slit formed in a floor surface along a traveling path of the conveying traveling body. An auxiliary floor surface mechanism which narrows the width of the slit has protruding members protruding from the side of the slit to the center of the slit, where each of the protruding members includes a plate-shaped portion along a perpendicularly vertical direction and is held and biased by an elastic force in a protruding posture in which the protruding member protrudes to the center of the slit. When the protruding member contacts the columnar support member, the protruding member moves in the movement direction of the columnar support member against elasticity so as to allow the passage of the columnar support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Fukushima, Shotaro Kamiya, Yoshikazu Hirokari, Yoshitaka Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10730703
    Abstract: A movement of the upstream workpiece to the first transfer position by the first mover and a movement of the downstream workpiece to the second transfer position by the second mover are performed in synchronization. A feed of the upstream workpiece from the first transfer position to the second transfer position by the first feeder and a feed of the downstream workpiece from the second transfer position to the third transfer position by the second feeder are performed in synchronization. A movement of the upstream workpiece from the second transfer position to the inversion position by the second mover and a movement of the downstream workpiece from the third transfer position to the second imaging position by the third mover are performed in synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomomitsu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10730704
    Abstract: A robotic transport device for small components comprising transport mechanism being suspended at two suspension elements, wherein the two suspension elements are distanced from each other in the direction of transport and wherein the two suspension elements are constructed in such a way that each of them is, independently from each other, be shifted in a direction vertical or substantially vertical to the direction of transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Melvin Haas
  • Patent number: 10730705
    Abstract: A loading and unloading device of solid state disk test system is used for picking and placing solid state disks at a test position. The device includes a sorting and feeding device and a transfer device including a transfer mechanism and an insert and extract robot. A loading and unloading position is located at the side of the sorting and feeding device away from the transfer device. The sorting and feeding device transfers the solid state disk to be tested from the loading and unloading position to a side close to the transfer device, and transfers the tested solid state disk back. The transfer mechanism drives the insert and extract robot to move relative to the test position to insert the solid state disk to be tested into the test position, which pulls out the tested solid state disk to transfer to the transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: WORLD PRECISION MANUFACTURING (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinsuo Sun, Shengkai Wang, Hongliang Yang, Jianhong Zhou, Benzhan Wu
  • Patent number: 10730706
    Abstract: A hand for connector connection that grips a component including a main body component, a flexible board extending from the main body component, and a first connector disposed on the flexible board and connects the first connector to a second connector of a mount substrate includes a first gripping section that grips the main body component and a second gripping section that grips the first connector. The second gripping section includes a close contact surface brought into close contact with a back surface of the first connector and a suction pad that starts suction of the back surface of the first connector in a position further projecting than the close contact surface and is contracted to a position where the suction pad is disposed flush with the close contact surface in a sucked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Motowaki
  • Patent number: 10730707
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device (38) for transporting a workpiece (23) between a clamping chuck (22) and a workpiece carrier (30). The transport device (38) comprises a gripper arrangement (39) with a pivot arm (40). One end of the pivot arm (40) is supported on the machine tool (20) and, in particular, a machine slide (25) via a first pivot drive (41) so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis (S1). On the other end, the pivot arm (40) supports a second pivot drive (42) that defines a second pivot axis (S2). A workpiece gripper (43) is supported so as to be pivotable about this second pivot axis (S2). The two pivot axes are inclined by 45° relative to each other. A workpiece (23) held by the workpiece gripper (43) has a workpiece longitudinal axis (W) that extends in a first position (I) of the workpiece gripper (43) at a right angle with respect to the pivot axis (S1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: WALTER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventor: Lukas Gussmann
  • Patent number: 10730708
    Abstract: An unloading apparatus for unloading cargo items from a cargo group on a cargo bed includes a cargo bed lifting and lowering mechanism, a first detection unit that measures heights of cargos items and detects positions of cargo items forming the upper surface of the cargo group, a moving device that moves the cargo items to an unloading position, a second detection unit that detects whether a lower end of a cargo item being held by the moving device is above a position that is higher than the highest position of the cargo items at the upper surface of the cargo group, and a controller. The controller controls the raising and lowering of cargo bed in conjunction with the lifting of cargo items. The controller also controls the moving of the cargo items to the unloading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & COLUTIONS CORP.
    Inventor: Yoshihide Otsuru
  • Patent number: 10730709
    Abstract: In an example implementation, an example printer system includes a lift, an indicator, a trigger, and a reset mechanism. In an example implementation, a lift is orientable by an amount of media when adjacent to the lift and a trigger has a first portion engageable with the lift at a first orientation of the lift. In an example implementation, the trigger causes the indicator to move towards a first location relative to an aperture defined by an exterior surface in response to engagement with the lift. In an example, the reset mechanism has a first portion engageable with the lift at a second orientation of the lift and the reset mechanism causes movement of the indicator away from the first location in response to engagement with the lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Wesley R Schalk, Peter G Hwang, Ki Jung Han, Danny Barker, Stephen G Brown, Jeremy Barribeau
  • Patent number: 10730710
    Abstract: In a paper cassette, a guide slides on a tray to place a sheet at a proper position. A lift mechanism uses a restoring force of an elastic member to push up the tray and make the sheet on the tray approach a pickup roller. When the paper cassette is pushed by a user from an opened position, which is out of the housing of a printer, to a closed position, which is in the housing, an adjuster mechanism mechanically converts a force of the user pushing the paper cassette to the restoring force of the elastic member from a time the guide reaches a specific point on a trajectory along which the guide travels together with the paper cassette, thus adjusting the strength of the restoring force continuously to a distance by which the guide overruns the specific point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Doshida, Masanobu Tomiyasu, Shigeru Sawano
  • Patent number: 10730711
    Abstract: There is provided a paper sheet recycling and printing apparatus including: a paper sheet recycling section which manufactures a recycled paper sheet under a first condition and a second condition different from the first condition; a first recycled paper sheet storage section in which the recycled paper sheet manufactured under the first condition is stored; a second recycled paper sheet storage section in which the recycled paper sheet manufactured under the second condition is stored; and a printing section to which the recycled paper sheet manufactured under the first condition is supplied from the first recycled paper sheet storage section and which prints recording information on a recording target medium including the recycled paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasumasa Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10730712
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus is capable of detecting the presence or absence of multi feeding with high accuracy even when a received waveform varies due to a “noise from the circuit” and an “influence due to vibrations,” which are fixedly generated noise components. The conveyance apparatus includes an original conveying motor configured to convey an original; an ultrasonic transmitter, which is arranged at one of positions sandwiching a conveyance path along which the original is conveyed, and transmits an ultrasonic wave toward the conveyance path; and an ultrasonic receiver, which is arranged at the other one of the positions sandwiching the conveyance path, and receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter. The conveyance apparatus compares a received wave amplitude exhibited with sheet-presence against a threshold value determined based on a received wave amplitude exhibited with sheet-absence to determine whether the original is conveyed with multi feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Arima
  • Patent number: 10730713
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet holding roller to move while holding a sheet, a detector to perform a primary detection to detect a sheet position before the sheet holding roller holds the sheet and a secondary detection to detect a sheet position downstream from the sheet position detected by the primary detection, and a controller configured to cause the sheet holding roller to perform a first drive to move the sheet holding roller in at least one direction of a width direction of the sheet and a rotation direction in a sheet conveying surface based on a result of the primary detection and a second drive to move the sheet holding roller opposite to the at least one direction of the first drive, based on a result of the secondary detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Matsuda, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Tetsuo Watanabe, Jun Yamane, Hideyuki Takayama
  • Patent number: 10730714
    Abstract: Personalized printed products are produced in which at least one individually printed sheet is combined with conventionally printed sheets. A plurality of stacks of conventionally printed sheets are made available. In addition, a print material web is made available that contains individual sheet segments and respectively one marking based on information received from a database, or a roll is provided which contains a pre-printed material web containing the sheets segments with respective markings. The markings on the individual sheet segments are read out and information read from the markings is used for selective gathering of conventionally printed sheets that are needed for the personalize printed product. Following the readout of the markings, individually printed sheets are cut from the print material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: MUELLER MARTINI HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Rolf Meyerhans, Roland Kost, Hans Leuenberger
  • Patent number: 10730715
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ricky Reynaldo Yanez, Jr., Nicholas Paul Goyette, Tina Brown, Gregory Hugh Dean
  • Patent number: 10730716
    Abstract: Techniques involve extruding, orienting and winding up a skein of film tapes or monofilaments. In particular, an apparatus has an extrusion installation, a plurality of drawing-off rollers and orienting rollers and a multiplicity of winding positions which are held alongside one another and one above another on an operating side of a frame wall. The winding positions are configured such that the wound packages are kept ready for removal at the frame wall on a doffing side on the opposite side from the operating side. Such an apparatus is able to achieve a material flow that is as continuous as possible during the production of the film strips and monofilaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Heymann
  • Patent number: 10730717
    Abstract: In accordance with example embodiments, a hose mover and a system for moving a hose are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Mick Zoske
  • Patent number: 10730718
    Abstract: A retractor device includes a housing including a back plate, a faceplate spaced apart from the back plate, and a sidewall extending between the back plate and the faceplate. The retractor device also includes a rotatable reel inside the housing, a spring biasing rotation of the rotatable reel in one direction, a tether wound around the rotatable reel, and an end fitting coupled to an end of the tether. A retainer of the housing is in contact with the end fitting when the end fitting is in the retracted position. The retractor device also includes at least one bearing inside the housing proximate to the retainer, and first and second extension openings in the sidewall of the housing on opposite sides of the retainer. The tether is configured to engage the bearing when the tether is extended through one of the first and second extension openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: WEST COAST CHAIN MFG. CO.
    Inventor: Andrew Castañeda
  • Patent number: 10730719
    Abstract: A system includes a frame and a first pair of rollers coupled to a first side of the frame. The first pair of rollers is configured to support a first end of a pipe reel. The system also includes a first cradle disposed longitudinally between the first pair of rollers and a second pair of rollers coupled to a second side of the frame. The second pair of rollers is configured to support a second end of a pipe reel. The system also includes a second cradle disposed longitudinally between the second pair of rollers, a pipe guide coupled to a third side of the frame between the first and second sides, a pipe brake coupled to the frame, and a pipe re-spooler coupled to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Tim Franklin-Hensler, Jonathan Guerrero, Richard Limas
  • Patent number: 10730720
    Abstract: A method monitors at least one suspension apparatus in an elevator system, wherein the suspension apparatus includes at least one electrically conducting tension load carrying member that is surrounded by an electrically insulating jacket. The method includes the steps of: repeated determination of a value of an electrical characteristic of at least one tension load carrying member or of a group of tension load carrying members; establishment of a mean value on the basis of the determined values; and comparison of the mean value established with a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Florian Dold
  • Patent number: 10730721
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rope cleaning device comprises a scraper ring which engages grooves between strands of a wire rope to scrape out foreign material from the grooves as the wire rope passes through the scraper ring, a wiper ring positioned in series with the scraper ring for wiping the surface of the wire rope as the wire rope passes through the wiper ring and a rotational mechanism which allows the scraper ring to rotate about the axis of the wire rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kato, Hirotomo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10730722
    Abstract: A retracting rail clamp for braking or anchoring a rail-mounted machine such as a crane by clamping opposite sides of a longitudinal rail member, the retracting rail clamp comprising: a load transfer frame rigidly secured to the crane, such as by bolting; and a clamp mechanism suspended within the load transfer frame by at least one lateral pair of pivotally mounted lift levers, and operable through a first and second stage of motion between a raised, brake release position, in which the entirety of the rail clamp is disposed substantially vertically clear of the rail, and a lowered, brake set position wherein at least one opposed facing pair of main levers of the clamp mechanism engage the side surfaces of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: PORTAL CRANE PARTS LTD.
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 10730723
    Abstract: A portable hoist apparatus includes a boom secured to a frame or body, which includes, at a side opposite the boom, a cylindrical mounting collar, on a vertical axis, can be slipped over a cylindrical pivot tube that in turn is connected to any of a number of different base mounting structures that are configured to be attached to various stable anchoring structures, such as on buildings, decks, posts, vehicles, floors and many other structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Spitsbergen
  • Patent number: 10730724
    Abstract: A wheeled crane and self-demounting and self-mounting methods for supporting legs thereof is disclosed. The wheeled crane includes a vehicle frame and auxiliary supports, and the auxiliary supports can enable the vehicle frame to keep balance. Since the wheeled crane has auxiliary supports, when the supporting legs are demounted or mounted, the auxiliary supports function as supporting legs, so that the supporting legs can be mounted and demounted by the operation part of the wheeled crane with no need of using an auxiliary crane, and thus the self-mounting and self-demounting of the supporting legs of the wheeled crane are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: XUZHOU HEAVY MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zenghai Shan, Honggang Ding, Hao Shu, Li Li, Housheng Wang, Haibing Ji, Jing Jiang, Jianjun Song
  • Patent number: 10730725
    Abstract: Provided is a display apparatus fir traveling cranes which is capable of displaying information about another traveling crane. The display apparatus for traveling cranes is equipped with: an imaging unit 20 which is mounted to the vicinity of the tip of a boom; a display unit 30 which displays an image captured by the imaging unit 20; a crane controller 40 which controls the orientation of a traveling crane; a communication unit 53 for mutually transmitting/receiving information to/from the other traveling crane; and an image controller 50 for displaying the information about the other traveling crane, received from the other traveling crane, in such a manner as to superimpose the information upon the image of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventor: Iwao Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10730726
    Abstract: Auto-engaging winch clutches, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative winch can include a frame, a cable drum, a drive motor supported by the frame, a gear train, and an auto-engaging clutch mechanism. The gear train can include a ring gear and a gear set engaged with the ring gear, the drive motor, and the drum. The auto-engaging clutch mechanism can include a locking element movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position, wherein in the engaged position the ring gear is grounded to the frame, and the gear set is coupled to transfer torque between the drive motor and the cable drum. An engagement mechanism can be coupled between the locking element and the drive motor to automatically move the locking element from the disengaged position to the engaged position and to automatically decouple the locking element from the drive motor when the motor is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Westin Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Karambelas, Ron Dennis, Timothy Frazier
  • Patent number: 10730727
    Abstract: A lifting apparatus having two rails spaced apart at a distance and two lifting mechanisms, each lifting mechanism supporting one of the two rails. A platform is disposed between the two rails such that movement of the lifting mechanisms causes the rails to displace relative to the platform. A base has the two lifting mechanisms connected thereto and the platform is connected to the base. The base moves horizontally along a floor. Further, the floor may be disposed in a pit and the travel of the rails between minimum and maximum rail heights may be greater than 62.5% of the depth of the pit. The minimum rail height may be less than 50% of the depth of the pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: BBM Railway Equipment, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan W. Knapp
  • Patent number: 10730728
    Abstract: A vehicle body and controller plug-in module for a material handling vehicle. The vehicle body having an upstanding body portion having an upwardly open compartment having a bottom including an upward extending wall surrounding electrical contacts associated with controller functions of the vehicle. The controller plug-in module includes a housing configured to be received by the upwardly open compartment of the vehicle body. The housing has a lower portion that includes an upward extending wall defining a recess surrounding electrical contacts. The controller plug-in module is configured to be removably electrically connected to the vehicle when the upward extending wall surrounding the electrical contacts of the upwardly open compartment of the upstanding body is plugged into and received by the recess in the lower portion of the housing of the controller plug-in module having the upward extending wall surrounding the electrical contacts of the controller plug-in module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG E-P EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ma Qichen, Huang Chao, Weng Lijian, Yu Jiandong
  • Patent number: 10730729
    Abstract: The scissor lift includes a horizontally collapsible base, a vertically collapsible frame mounted on the base, a horizontally foldable platform mounted on top of the vertically collapsible frame, and a plurality of wheels mounted on the base. The horizontally and vertically collapsible scissor lift is steerable and the plurality of wheels may be coupled such that they each rotate about a vertical axis synchronously with respect to one another to steer the lift. Further, at least one of the wheels may be self-driving to controllably propel the horizontally and vertically collapsible scissor lift. One or more winches with associated cables may be used to selectively raise and lower the vertically collapsible frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventors: Kan Cui, Margaret C. Liu, Samuel K. Liu
  • Patent number: 10730730
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include cover assemblies for baskets of aerial work platforms and methods of fabricating a cover assembly for a basket of an aerial work platform. In an illustrative embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, a cover assembly for a basket of an aerial work platform includes a flexible cover. The flexible cover includes an interior guardrail portion and an exterior guardrail portion. The interior guardrail portion is configured to be received adjacent an interior surface of a guardrail of a basket of an aerial work platform. The exterior guardrail portion surrounds the interior guardrail portion, and the exterior guardrail portion is configured to be received adjacent an exterior surface of a guardrail of a basket of an aerial work platform. A retrieval mechanism is configured to draw the exterior guardrail portion toward the interior guardrail portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: MCF Distributing, LLC
    Inventor: Mark S. Mueller