Patents Issued in May 7, 2024
  • Patent number: 11975905
    Abstract: A multi-layer beverage container made is disclosed. An outer layer encloses an inner layer that is configured to shrink or flex to accommodate volume changes of a beverage inside the beverage container caused by a change in temperature of the beverage in the sealed beverage container. The inner layer is not attached to the outer layer through the majority of the beverage container, with attachment zones being located at selected areas of the outer layer. There is a space between the inner layer and the outer layer. A gas introduction system is provided in the space to maintain a desired gas pressure in the space. The set gas pressure allows outer layer to be designed without the need to resist deformation caused by reduced pressure due to changing volumes of the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Joseph Albaum
  • Patent number: 11975906
    Abstract: Provided is a cushioning material for being put into a packing box configured for encasement of electronic equipment. The cushioning material absorbs external stress applied to the electronic equipment encased in the packing box. The cushioning material includes: a first holder including a first plate configured to face the electronic equipment when the cushioning material and the electronic equipment are encased in the packing box, and a second plate configured to face an inner wall surface of the packing box when the cushioning material and the electronic equipment are encased in the packing box; and a first cushioning block provided between the first plate and the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Kamigaki, Sanshiro Takeshita, Haoki Fushimi
  • Patent number: 11975907
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for maintaining temperature control of a distribution item, or of the contents of a distribution item, as the distribution item moves through the distribution network. A container housing an item can include a cooling unit, a heating unit, or both, and control circuitry including a temperature sensor. The control circuitry activates the cooling unit or heating unit as required to maintain the item at a desired temperature or within a desired temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: James Edward Lee, Sr., Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11975908
    Abstract: The use of a palladium-doped zeolite for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds is described wherein the zeolite has a CHA framework type and is polymer-bound. Such zeolites have been found to have particular utility as packaging materials for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds, such as those originating from organic matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Andrew William John Smith, Andrew Cornish, Han Xu, Jhonny Rodrigues Ramos
  • Patent number: 11975909
    Abstract: A receptacle article comprises a first wall, a second wall, a connection between a peripheral edge of the first wall and the second wall, the connection defining a peripheral edge of the receptacle, a hollow interior between an inner surface of the first wall and an inner surface of the second wall, and an opening, the opening exposing the hollow interior to an external environment of the receptacle. The opening can be through a thickness of one of the first and second wall. The pocket can be filled with a filler or cushioning material so that the receptacle can function as a multi-purpose cushioning member or system. The filler material can be used plastic grocery bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel H. Walden
  • Patent number: 11975910
    Abstract: An insulation wrap includes an insulation batt defining a top end and a bottom end, the insulation batt defining an inner side and an outer side; a wrap liner blank including an inner portion extending across a first panel and a second panel of the wrap liner blank, the inner side of the insulation batt positioned facing the inner portion; a ledge portion extending across the first panel and the second panel of the wrap liner blank, the ledge portion hingedly coupled to the inner portion by an inner hinge, the top end of the insulation batt positioned facing the ledge portion; and an outer portion extending across the first panel and the second panel of the wrap liner blank, the outer portion hingedly coupled to the ledge portion by a ledge hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Pratt Retail Specialties, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Sollie, Jamie Waltermire, Shifeng Chen, Markel Graham
  • Patent number: 11975911
    Abstract: An insulation core made of at least one of pressed straw or hay, wherein the insulation core is geometrically defined and stable in shape, the shape retention of the insulation core given by the stochastic distribution and form of stalks of the at least one of pressed straw or hay, and fibers of stalks of the at least one of pressed straw or hay remain undissolved within the natural structure of the stalks; and a covering that covers the insulation core on all sides and is predominantly connected by form-locking to the insulation core, and that the density of the insulation packaging is between 40 kg\m3 and 250 kg\m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: LANDPACK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Maier-Eschenlohr, Patricia Eschenlohr
  • Patent number: 11975912
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods and/or apparatuses involving an apparatus having a channel, an actuator, a mechanical stop, and a dial having nozzles and a gear. The dial is operable to rotate for selectively aligning each of the respective nozzles with the channel. The gear has a plurality of cogs and recessed regions between adjacent ones of the cogs, and is configured with the mechanical stop to prevent movement of the actuator when the dial is positioned such that none of the nozzles are aligned with the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: RUST-OLEUM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Adam Peter Morrison
  • Patent number: 11975913
    Abstract: A packet for cigarette industry products, having a casing which, preferably on all sides, surrounds a group of cigarette industry products as the packet content, wherein the casing is formed from a packaging material, and wherein folding tabs of the packaging material are connected to one another by seams. Preferably all seams are formed by crimping folding tabs of the packaging material that bear on one another in the overlap region of those folding tabs that bear on one another. The invention also relates to corresponding devices and methods for producing such packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Jan Schnakenberg, Gerd Städing
  • Patent number: 11975914
    Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle battery transportation container having a battery fixing hook, one or more foldable anti-slip parts installed on a seat base manufactured in a plate shape having a closed upper surface stand upright to prevent left- right slip and front-rear slip of an electric vehicle battery, a ratchet which tightens a belt to fix the electric vehicle battery to the seat base in a state in which a battery fixing hook connected to the ratchet accommodated in a ratchet accommodation recess part formed in the seat base by the belt is inserted into an assembly hole formed in a lower bracket of the electric vehicle battery loaded on the seat base, and a corner support shaft unevenly coupled to a support shaft insertion groove formed with an inclined structure having a decreasing inner diameter to load seat bases on a transportation vehicle in multiple stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI GLOVIS CO., LTD., NPC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo Suck Nam, Oh Seong Kim, Jong Dai Park
  • Patent number: 11975915
    Abstract: A hand-held lift loop assembly tester apparatus and method tests peel strength of a heat seal connection between a lift loop patch and a bulk bag body as an indicator of shear strength of the connection and whether the bag will pass industry safety lifting requirements. A lifting platform of the hand loop tester is inserted between the patch and the bag body in an unsealed area and measures the amount of peel and thus the peel strength of the heat seal bond or connection at the edges or sides of the unsealed area. If the peel strength is adequate, this is a reliable indicator that the shear strength of the bond or connection is also adequate and that the bag will meet the current industry required 5 to 1 safety lifting requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ameriglobe, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford Dunlap, Brody Alan Viator
  • Patent number: 11975916
    Abstract: An anchor assembly and related system for holding an underground tank below a ground level, including a lightweight anchor base defining a slot, and a retention mechanism that is locatable at multiple locations along the slot of the anchor base to securely maintain a strap assembly in place. The system can include the anchor assembly and the strap assembly, with the retention mechanism of the anchor assembly being movable along the slot of the anchor base to facilitate placement and adjustment of the strap assembly with respect to the anchor base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PULTRUSION TECHNIQUE INC.
    Inventor: Robert Dufresne
  • Patent number: 11975917
    Abstract: A tank for transporting a liquid is disclosed. In some implementations, the tank includes a carrier having a plurality of compartments, each compartment of the plurality of compartments having an opening for containing one or more baffles. In some implementations, the tank includes a plurality of posts that are securable relative to the tank and configured to support the one or more baffles. In some implementations, the posts are removed from the tank to facilitate installation of the baffles. In some implementations, the posts are rotatable to facilitate installation of the baffles. In some implementations, the tank is a two-piece tank which facilitates access to the one or more baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: Roger Hayes
  • Patent number: 11975918
    Abstract: A stand is provided for storing a grass bagger or collection assembly removed from a lawn mower. The stand includes a base, which may include wheels, and a pair of upstanding arms to which the grass collection assembly is mounted. The arms include receivers, such as pins or plates, to which the frame of the bagger assembly is hooked. A fastener extends through at least of the arms and the bagger frame to prevent accidental falling of the frame from the stand. The stand includes upstanding members over which the bagger chute can be mounted to store the chute in an upright position adjacent the grass collector frame and bag. A shelf may be provided on the stand to store other bagger accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: DUBUQUE STAMPING & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Matt Spahn, Ron Smyth
  • Patent number: 11975919
    Abstract: An automated cargo delivery system is provided, including an automated guided vehicle having a housing defining a recess therein and a propulsion system configured to move the housing. The recess may be configured to receive a plurality of swappable carriers each having a uniform width in a horizontal direction and a uniform height in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. Each of the swappable carriers may be configured to be engaged within the recess. The plurality of swappable carriers may include a first swappable carrier and a second swappable carrier. A method of delivering cargo with the automated guided vehicle is also provided. The method may include alternatingly inserting and engaging the first swappable carrier and the second swappable carrier into the recess of the automated guided vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Nathanael Arling Worden, Samuel Gardner Garrett, David Kyle Funnell, Karl Eric Schrader
  • Patent number: 11975920
    Abstract: A system may include a vehicle for delivering items and a plurality of racks having a plurality of storage locations. The racks may be arranged to form one or more aisles. The vehicles are configured to drive horizontally along a path that may extend along a path under the racks that is parallel to the aisles. Additionally, the vehicles may be operated to turn while the vehicle is positioned under one of the racks. The vehicles may travel under the racks and cross one or more aisles to reach a particular column in one of the aisles. The vehicle climbs upwardly within the particular column to retrieve an item from a storage location in the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: OPEX Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Stevens, Joseph Valinsky
  • Patent number: 11975921
    Abstract: A method and installation for picking items from storage units into one or more outbound units. The installation has a small parts store in which the storage units are stored, and a pick area, in which storage units from the parts store are presented at several pickup points. Assigned to the pick area is a conveyor track via which the outbound units can be moved in or out of the pick area, such that items can be picked from the storage units disposed in the pickup points and into the outbound units. The installation has a pick location, at which one or more receiving locations for outbound units and a conveyor device for storage units from the parts store are disposed such that items can be picked from the storage units delivered on the conveyor device and into the outbound units disposed at the receiving locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: WITRON LOGISTIK + INFORMATIK GMBH
    Inventor: Walter Winkler
  • Patent number: 11975922
    Abstract: A conveyor system is configured to transport the electronic substrates through the cleaning modules of a cleaning apparatus. The conveyor system includes a first outer frame member, a second outer frame member spaced from the first outer frame member, a bottom belt disposed between the first outer frame member and the second outer frame member, and a top belt spaced from the bottom belt. The bottom belt and the top belt are configured to receive a product carrier therebetween to transport electronic substrates along the conveyor system and through the cleaning modules. The conveyor system further includes a plurality of roller assemblies, with at least one roller assembly being coupled to the first outer frame member and at least one roller assembly being coupled to the second outer frame member. Each roller assembly is configured to apply a force on the top belt or the bottom belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John Neiderman, Scotty Slavens, Eric Wayne Becker
  • Patent number: 11975923
    Abstract: An article retaining device includes a hopper configured to temporarily retain articles and discharge the articles, and a supporting body configured to detachably support the hopper. The hopper has a main body configured to retain the articles, and an extending portion that extends along a width direction of the main body. The supporting body has an engaging portion that engages with the extending portion, and a guide surface configured to guide movement of the extending portion to the engaging portion when the hopper is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Araki
  • Patent number: 11975924
    Abstract: Conveyor pulley systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed. One or more embodiments include reinforcing structure which may comprise a cartridge. One or more embodiments include a backing bar and reinforcing disc with corresponding mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Superior Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmidgall, Kent Olson
  • Patent number: 11975925
    Abstract: A system (200) for monitoring conveyor belts is disclosed. The system (200) includes a sensor loop stack (110), RFID, a transmitter (104), a detector (106), RFID-readers and circuitry (108). The sensor loop stack incorporated and/or installed (inserted) into a conveyor belt (102). The transmitter (110) is configured to generate an electromagnetic field. The detector (106) is configured to measure an induced electric field from the sensor loop stack (110). The circuitry (108) is configured to detect damage of the conveyor belt based on the measured induced electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ContiTech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Janosch Kneer, Juerg Schleuniger, Isabell Kegel, Andrey Minkin, Sebastian Seibold, Stavros Podias, Christel Bäuerle-Müller
  • Patent number: 11975926
    Abstract: An automated belt-based diverter system is described in some implementations. In an example implementation, the system may include a belt, which includes a closed loop of material, coupled with a pulley and a motor that provides motive force to the belt, for example, using the pulley. In some implementations, one or more diverter arms may be coupled with the belt. A diverter arm may include a body with a first arm end, a second arm end, and a pushing surface. A diverter arm may be coupled at the first end with the belt so that the second end extends away from the belt and the pushing surface may contact an object to push the item. The system may also include a controller coupled with the motor to rotate the belt in defined directions or distances based on instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Calem Harris, Sebastian Mora, Grant Tucker, Arun Kumar Ranganathan Jagannathan, Carl Skantze, Arnold Tsoka, Mario Faulkner
  • Patent number: 11975927
    Abstract: A material transfer system includes one or more of the following features: (i) a rotatable conveyor assembly is configured to enable adjustment of a radial position of the item guide surface of each item pocket for adjusting pocket depth; (ii) the rotatable conveyor assembly is configured to enable adjustment of an arcuate offset distance between the item guide surface and the item push surface of each item pocket; and/or (iii) the guide surface is formed, at least in part, by at least one flexible rail that is adjustable between multiple orientations and the flexible is configured to flex in a manner such that, in each one of the multiple orientations, the guide surface follows a substantially arcuate path with a set radius, wherein the set radius varies between the multiple orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FOGG FILLER COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Trevor R. Dodd
  • Patent number: 11975928
    Abstract: A transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system includes a conduit having a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge. The pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn W. Stousland, David R. Zittel, Daniel D. Maupin, Steven J. Schultz, Scott K. Weisman
  • Patent number: 11975929
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate the loading of a grain bin such that the level in the grain bin increases generally uniformly and the distribution of grain size in the grain bin is generally uniform as well. The method includes redirecting the flow of the grain from the conveyer as it flows into the grain bin. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an adjustable leveling band for redirecting the grain uniformly to a plurality of radially extending chutes. In one embodiment, the angle of the chutes can also be easily adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: EXTRON COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall G. Honeck, Dustin D. Paloranta, Greggory C. Phelps
  • Patent number: 11975930
    Abstract: Unloading conveyor systems are provided. Some unloading conveyor system embodiments have a transport configuration and an operating configuration. In some embodiments, the unloading conveyor system comprises a ramp assembly a side conveyor system, and an unloading conveyor system. In some embodiments, each side conveyor optionally includes an extension wing and a backboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: WM. D. SCEPANIAK INC.
    Inventor: Tom Koehl
  • Patent number: 11975931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for moving a heavy object into a confined space. The method comprises providing the heavy object in an initial position, the heavy object having an underside resting on a ground surface and comprising an inducible gas-cushion arrangement which in its inactive state causes the underside of the heavy object to maintain contact with the ground surface; activating the inducible gas-cushion arrangement by forming a gas cushion between the underside of the heavy object and the ground surface, the gas cushion generating a lifting force causing the underside of the heavy object to lose contact with the ground surface; moving the heavy object relative to the confined space until the underside of the heavy object at least levels with the supporting surface of the confined space; and moving the heavy object into its final position utilizing the lifting force of the gas-cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Gunnar Björkman, Viktor Karlsson
  • Patent number: 11975932
    Abstract: A gripping and carrying device for moving a container having a longitudinal axis and a transversal axis where in the device comprises a substantially L-shaped frame extending along the longitudinal axis and connected onto a mobile crane, the frame having a distal end provided with at least one hooking device configured to engage onto at least one complementary hooking device provided on the container and a proximal end provided with a grabbing and gripping deck having grab handles rotationally mounted onto the deck and a gripping device translationally mounted onto the deck, mobile between a releasing position wherein the gripping device are disengaged from the container and a gripping position wherein the gripping device are configured to engage into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Paolo Ballarin, Fabrice Courtens
  • Patent number: 11975933
    Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette includes a main body, a lift plate, a pair of side cursors, and an auxiliary lift plate. The main body is configured to accommodate a sheet fed out in a predetermined sheet feeding direction. The lift plate is provided in the main body in a liftable manner, and has a sheet placement surface on which the sheet is placed. The pair of side cursors is configured to be moved in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction and to come into contact with side edges of the sheet placed on the lift plate to align the sheet. The auxiliary lift plate is detachably attached to a notch portion which is formed in the lift plate so as to allow a moving of the side cursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Ando
  • Patent number: 11975934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (20) for winding a longitudinally cut material web having multiple longitudinal strips (12) on a plurality of winding tubes (16) to form in each case a wound roll. The device comprises an axle (24) and, mounted on the axle, a plurality of ring-shaped winding drives (22) that are individually controllable in their operating position. Each winding drive (22) forms an external-rotor electric motor and comprises a static interior tube (40) and a rotatable external tube (50). The external tube (50) that is rotatable on the rolling bearings (48) bears, on its interior, a device for providing an excitation magnetic field (52) that forms the external rotor of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FMS Force Measuring Systems AG
    Inventor: Jörg Inhelder
  • Patent number: 11975935
    Abstract: A mask dispensing assembly includes a housing that is positionable in a public transportation vehicle and the housing has a dispensing slot extending into an interior of the housing to dispense face masks stored in the housing to the passengers. A lifting unit is positioned within the housing to lift a stack of disposable face masks in the housing thereby aligning a topmost one of the stack of disposable face masks with the slot. A dispenser is positioned in the housing to urge the topmost one of the stack of disposable face masks outwardly through the slot. A switch is positioned in the public transportation and the lifting unit is actuated when the switch is depressed to facilitate the driver to dispense a disposable mask for a passenger to wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Johnson
  • Patent number: 11975936
    Abstract: A printer includes a guide frame, a deforming section, and a lever member. The guide frame includes a transport path. The deforming section includes a toothed roller, a supporting holder, and a torsion spring and deforms paper. The toothed roller comes into contact with the paper discharged from the transport path. The supporting holder is configured to pivot between a first position at which the toothed roller is located on the transport path and a second position at which the toothed roller is not located on the transport path. The torsion spring presses the supporting holder from the second position to the first position. The lever member is configured to switch between a regulating state in which pivoting of the supporting holder at the first position or the second position is regulated and a non-regulating state in which pivoting of the supporting holder is not regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 11975937
    Abstract: A feeding unit includes: a retard roller; a holder section; a protruding section; an accommodating section; a pressing section; a first restricting section; and a second restricting section. The holder section rotatably holds the retard roller. The protruding section serves as a rocking fulcrum of the holder section. The accommodating section accommodates the holder section. The pressing section presses the holder section. The first restricting section restricts movement of the holder section in a retreating direction. The second restricting section restricts movement of the holder section in a direction opposite to the retreating direction. The pressing section is arranged so as to deviate in a Y direction with respect to a virtual line passing through a middle point of the protruding section and a middle point of the first restricting section. The holder section comes into contact with the first restricting section and the second restricting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Kondo, Junko Ao
  • Patent number: 11975938
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport unit, a load section, and a sheet accommodation section. The transport unit has a transport path along which a sheet read at a read position is transported to an output unit. The sheet output by the output unit is loaded onto the load section. The sheet accommodation section is disposed downstream in an output direction of the sheet from an inner wall surface extending upward adjacent to the load section and has a recess capable of accommodating a sheet of a predetermined minimum size. A retrieval space through which the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation section is retrievable is provided by exposing the transport path in a direction opposite to a loading direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yosuke Takahashi, Masato Serikawa, Takakiyo Toba, Yuta Abe, Isamu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11975939
    Abstract: A sheet suction device includes a drum having multiple suction ports in a circumferential surface of the drum, the drum configured to bear a sheet on the circumferential surface and rotate in a circumferential direction of the drum, and a suction device configured to suck the sheet through the multiple suction ports to attract the sheet on the circumferential surface. The drum includes multiple suction regions aligned in the circumferential direction on the circumferential surface, each of the multiple suction regions includes the multiple suction ports aligned in the circumferential direction and in an axial direction of the drum on the circumferential surface, the multiple suction regions include an upstream region, a middle region, and a downstream region in the circumferential direction, and the middle region has the multiple suction ports at both outer sides in the axial direction of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 11975940
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor, a tray, a gear, a protruding portion, and a processor. The sensor has a light transmitting unit and light receiving units and is configured to generate an output signal in accordance with an amount of light received by the light receiving units. The gear is configured to rotate in accordance with an amount of sheets stacked on the tray. The protruding portion is configured to rotate with the gear and move into a light path of light emitted from the light emitting unit to the light receiving units to partially block the light, the protruding portion having a width that determines how much light in the light path is blocked and varies gradually from a first end thereof to a second end thereof. The processor is configured to determine the amount of sheets stacked on the tray based on the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kosuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11975941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary guide (1) for guiding at least one line (2) between two points (3, 4), which can be rotated relative to each other, without interruptions. Two receiving parts (12, 14) for receiving a respective sub-section of two sub-sections (29, 31), which are to be wound about the common rotational axis (X) in opposite directions, of a line section (2a), which can be received in the rotary guide (1), can be rotated relative to each other about a rotational axis (X). A deflecting unit (16) supports a deflecting region (18), in which the line section (2a) of the line (2) changes over between the opposite sub-sections (29, 31) in order to deflect the line (2) to be guided from one receiving part (12, 14) to the other receiving part (12, 14) in the event of a relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: igus GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Theiß
  • Patent number: 11975942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor terminal for an elevator system in a building, comprising an elevator operating terminal and a wireless network device. The elevator operating terminal has a user interface for calling an elevator cabin, an elevator data interface for communicating data with an elevator controller, and a processing device which is coupled to the user interface and the elevator data interface. The wireless network device has a wireless transceiver for communicating with a communication device, a data interface for communicating data with the network access point, and a processing device coupled to the wireless transceiver and the data interface. By using such a floor terminal, a building can be equipped with additional functionality with relatively little installation effort during a redevelopment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Florian Troesch
  • Patent number: 11975943
    Abstract: In a handrail including a carcass, a stretch inhibitor within the carcass, and a sliding layer bonded to the carcass, at least a portion of the carcass has a gas phase dispersed in a solid polymer matrix. The gas phase can reduce a density of the carcass by at least 5% or 10%, or about 15%, as compared to a density of the polymer matrix. The carcass can have a generally uniform distribution of gas bubbles in the polymer matrix, which can define a generally closed cell structure in the polymer matrix. The gas phase can be formed of particles of a syntactic foam dispersed in the polymer matrix. The handrail can further include a cover. The carcass and the cover can be formed of thermoplastic materials, and the cover can represent between 10 and 30% of the overall TPU required for the handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: EHC CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Qingping Guo, Andrew Oliver Kenny, Reginald Anthony Butwell, James Ryan Sabadin, Jason Wong, Hani E. Naguib, Wanqiao Wang, Linghong Li, Ali Owais Anwer, Muhammad Abdul Samad Anwer
  • Patent number: 11975944
    Abstract: A method for diagnosis and/or maintenance of a brake configured to apply braking force to a hoisting machine of a transportation system includes controlling the brake to start a brake control action, e.g. an opening and/or a closing action of the brake; monitoring the brake to detect a response of the brake to the brake control action, wherein in case of the response the response is detected in a predefined manner; measuring a brake operating time interval from a first point in time of starting of the brake control action until a second point in time of monitoring the brake to detect the response; and, if either the response has not been detected until the brake operating time interval reaches and/or exceeds a predetermined threshold or the response has been detected after the brake operating time interval reaches and/or exceeds the predetermined threshold, establishing an information indicating that an operation of the brake should be modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antti Saarelainen, Joni Lappalainen
  • Patent number: 11975945
    Abstract: A frictionless safety brake actuator (100), a braking system, and an elevator system. The frictionless safety brake actuator (100) for use in an elevator system, includes: a fixed component (110); a movable component (130), configured to be moveable between a first position in which a safety brake is actuated and a second position in which the safety brake is not actuated; a biasing element (120) arranged between the fixed component (110) and the movable component (130) to apply a biasing force to the movable component (130) to bias the movable component (130) away from the fixed component (120) towards the first position; an actuating element (140) connected to the movable component (130); a holding arrangement (150) comprising a latch (154) and a first actuator (152), wherein the first actuator (152) is configured to be selectively operable to move the latch (154) between a holding position and a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Mikhail Zabran
  • Patent number: 11975946
    Abstract: An elevator rope monitoring device, provided with: line sensor cameras 1a, 1b for imaging the entire circumference of the traveling elevator rope 5; a speed/position detecting device 4 for detecting the traveling speed and traveling position of the elevator rope 5; an image recording part 3a for inputting the image acquired by the line sensor cameras 1a, 1b in association with the traveling position of the elevator rope 5 detected by the speed/position detecting means 4; an image creating part 3b for creating an entire circumferential image of the elevator rope 5 from the image imaged by the line sensor cameras 1a, 1b; and an image processing part 3c for detecting an abnormality in the elevator rope 5 by analyzing the entire circumferential image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION, OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yusuke Watabe, Makoto Niwakawa, Mitsuru Kato, Ryuji Onoda, Hirotomo Tanaka, Takashi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11975947
    Abstract: A lifting device for lifting a tubular pile comprises a hoisting member including a centreline, a plurality of engagement elements which are moveably mounted to the hoisting member at angular distance with respect to each other about the centreline and actuators for moving the respective engagement elements with respect to the hoisting member. The engagement elements are moveable in longitudinal direction of the centreline along respective guides of the hoisting member. The guides are inclined with respect to the centreline such that the engagement elements move in radial direction of the centreline when being moved in longitudinal direction of the centreline. The actuators are functionally interconnected such that under operating conditions the actuators move the engagements elements simultaneously until a first one of the actuators reaches a counterforce which is higher than a counterforce of a second one of the actuators, after which the second one of the actuators is moved further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: IQIP HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Pieter Hendrik Van Leeuwen, Harm Daniël Van Der Laan
  • Patent number: 11975948
    Abstract: A crane risk logic apparatus and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the crane risk logic apparatus, the crane risk logic apparatus is integral with a crane, such as a crawler crane or a tower crane, and located in communication with a load moment indicator. The crane risk logic apparatus receives crane data from the load moment indicator and determines lift cycle data therefrom. The crane risk logic apparatus determines an area of interest based on locationing data received from a global positioning system (GPS) unit incorporated therewith and receives weather data for this area of interest. The crane risk logic apparatus causes an alert notification at the crane to occur in response to presence of weather issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: Jim D. Wiethorn
  • Patent number: 11975949
    Abstract: A gantry crane adapter for a two-post lift includes a pair of angle brackets, each of which has a first, horizontal leg and second, vertical leg. The first leg includes an aperture, and a short hook extends in parallel, spaced relation along an outer surface of the second leg. The hook of each bracket is received in the slot in a carriage in a respective post of the two-post lift to removably connect each bracket to the respective carriage, with the first, horizontal legs of the respective brackets projecting toward each other. A load bearing beam is positioned across the brackets such that an internally threaded boss at each end of the beam is received in an aperture in a respective bracket, and a bolt with a washer is threaded down into the boss, to support and retain the load bearing beam across the angle brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: Brian Andrew Lipkowski
  • Patent number: 11975950
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly head for a telescopic boom that can be separated into an inner and an outer boom set and that is reversibly mountable at an inner telescopic section of the outer boom set. The assembly head comprises a pulley head having deflection pulleys and a telescopic tube section that is arranged the pulley head, that can be pushed into the inner telescopic section from its end, and that has a substantially smaller length than the inner telescopic section. The disclosure further relates to a separable telescopic boom having an assembly head in accordance with the disclosure, to a mobile crane having a telescopic boom in accordance with the disclosure, and to a method for the self-assembly of an assembly head in accordance with the disclosure at the outer boom set of a telescopic boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-WERK EHINGEN GMBH
    Inventor: Bernd Boos
  • Patent number: 11975951
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to engineering machinery and a dynamic anti-collision method, device, and system for operation space thereof. The dynamic anti-collision method for operation space includes: receiving obstacle information of an obstacle around a boom of engineering machinery and boom motion information of the engineering machinery; determining obstacle coordinates according to the obstacle information and the boom motion information; deciding whether the obstacle coordinates are located in a predetermined early warning area or not; and indicating an execution device to send out collision warning information in case where the obstacle coordinates are located in the predetermined early warning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: XCMG CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bin Zhao, Jian Liu, Junfei Chai, Bayona Gómez Alberto, Chuanzheng Hu
  • Patent number: 11975952
    Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing line for mooring a boat to a dock includes a user interface, an auto-retracting reel assembly, and optionally, a conduit connecting the user interface to the reel assembly. The user interface comprises a canister mounted on a gunwale, or the like, for storing the distal, looped end of a mooring line, a top lid that slides horizontally between an open and closed position, a rail support engaged by the top lid, and a bottom lid having a hole defined therein. The extended mooring line may be locked into place by frictional engagement between the spring loaded top lid and the rail support. To retract the mooring line, a user may open the top lid of the user interface for automated retraction, winding around the reel, until the stopping collar prevents the distal, looped end of the mooring line from passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: William Garrett Dell
  • Patent number: 11975953
    Abstract: A lifting column includes a drive unit, a lifting tube, and a transmission assembly. The lifting tube includes a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, a fourth tube, and a fifth tube. The transmission assembly includes a first screw rod, a second screw rod, a third screw rod, and a fourth screw rod. The drive unit is in transmission fit with the first screw rod and drives the first screw rod to rotate. A lower end of the second screw rod has a first nut in transmission with the first screw rod, a lower end of the third screw rod has a second nut in transmission with the second screw rod, a lower end of the fourth screw rod has a third nut in transmission with the third screw rod, and a lower end of the first tube has a fourth nut in transmission with the fourth screw rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG JIECANG LINEAR MOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Renchang Hu, Xiaojian Lu, Jian Pan
  • Patent number: 11975954
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to method and system for autonomous vehicles management in an operating environment. The method may include sending a route plan in response to a request received by an autonomous vehicle from amongst a plurality of autonomous vehicles in an operating environment including one or more devices, wherein the one or more device comprises device or device space. The method may further include categorizing the route plan into path segments, the path segments including a first path segment including one or more nodes from the plurality of nodes being inside a device zone of the one or more devices and a second path segment including one or more nodes from the plurality of nodes being outside the device zone of the one or more devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Rapyuta Robotics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Abhishek Sharma, Veeraj S Khokale, Dale Koenig