Selectively Utilized Sources Patents (Class 141/104)
  • Patent number: 8550130
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for filling reusable containers employing a plurality of moveable spigots located in a planar rectangular arrangement inside two frames positioned to move back and forth on X and Y axes to position a selected spigot over the open top of a reusable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Martin John Burrows
  • Patent number: 8528605
    Abstract: A method of producing a coating composition in an in-store tinting machine comprising the steps of selecting a base paint, adding at least one additive to the base paint, adding at least one colorant to the base paint, the at least one colorant being selected from a range of colorants in the in-store tinting machine, mixing the base paint, the at least one colorant, and the at least one additive so as to produce a coating composition, in which the additive is not a base paint or a colorant from the range of colorants in the in-store tinting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited
    Inventor: Martin James Smith
  • Patent number: 8522841
    Abstract: A soft drink container includes a plurality of the additive storage containers, a plurality of additive contents contained in the additive storage containers, an additive storage selector, a base storage container containing at least one base liquid, and a mechanism operable to release the additive contents into the base liquid storage. The plurality of additive contents may include at least one of salts, spices, flavoring, color agents, odors, fragrances, vitamins, thickeners, enhancers, fruit distillers, preservatives and vitamins. The additive storage selector is operable to separately align each of the plurality of additive storage containers with an opening of the base storage container and is operable to release a selected additive content into the base liquid container. The additive storage selector may further include a piercer operable to pierce the base storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Enpulz, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8521323
    Abstract: There is provided a device and method for arranging a vial, which can efficiently arrange a plurality of vials in the same arrangement place. A device for arranging a vial includes an arm member 150 for sandwiching one vial 1 and a carrying means 58 for carrying the vial 1 sandwiched by the arm member 150 to a vial arranging section 202. A layout of the vials 1 in the vial arranging section 202 can be set according to the number (n) of the vials 1 carried into the same vial arranging section 202. The carrying means 58 can advance and retract the arm member 150 in at least two or more directions in the vial arranging section 202.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Imai, Takafumi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8505594
    Abstract: A container filling element for filling containers with a liquid. The filling element has two liquid ducts and two separate discharge openings in a housing, as well as separate valves which control the flow of liquid for each liquid duct and discharge opening. A gas shutoff element is disposed in one of the liquid ducts and is positioned adjacent to each of the discharge openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch
  • Patent number: 8485233
    Abstract: A system for custom fueling a motor vehicle including: a fuel dispenser configured and adapted to blend fuels from two or more tanks while dispensing; a processor in communication with the fuel dispenser and configured and adapted to receive a set of fuel blend information for a motor vehicle, wherein the set of fuel blend information includes in-warranty bio-diesel blend ranges and customer fuel blend preferences; a fuel blend selection module operably connected to the processor for receiving the set of fuel blend information, processing the set of fuel blend information, and returning fuel blend instructions which are then provided to the fuel dispenser for dispensing fuel per the fuel blend instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Anthony Allinson, Curtis Lee Munson
  • Patent number: 8453682
    Abstract: A method for dispensing a compressed gas for reducing the amount of residual gas in dispensing station storage vessels before refilling is required. The method comprises transferring compressed gas into receiving vessels in a first series of fill-ups where each of the receiving vessels receive compressed gas from a first mobile storage device and subsequently from a second mobile storage device, transporting the first mobile storage device to a refilling station after the first mobile storage device has been depleted to a selected depletion level, refilling the first mobile storage device at the refilling station, and transferring compressed gas into receiving vessels in a second series of fill-ups where each of the receiving vessels receive compressed gas from the second mobile storage device and one or more of the first mobile storage device after refilling and a third mobile storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Bernard Bonner, Joseph Perry Cohen, David John Farese, Edward Clyde Heydorn, Ravi Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8453684
    Abstract: A canister for sealing fluid for repairing inflatable articles has a bottle defining an inner volume for the sealing fluid; a first inlet port and an outlet port connected fluidically by the inner volume; at least one non-return valve downstream from the inner volume and open to permit outflow of the sealing fluid from the outlet port; and a second inlet port connected to the outlet port, downstream from the at least one non-return valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Tek Global S.r.l.
    Inventor: Sergio Lolli
  • Patent number: 8448677
    Abstract: A refilling apparatus for a refillable container and associated methodology is described and wherein the apparatus includes a refillable dispensing container; a source of pressurized propellant for delivery to the refillable dispensing container; a valve coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the source of pressurized propellant; a source of a liquid to be dispensed by the refillable container and which is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the valve, and a pressurized vessel positioned downstream relative to both the sources of the liquid to be dispensed, and the pressurized propellant, as well as the valve, and which encloses a volume of the liquid to be dispensed to refill a depleted refillable dispensing container when the refillable dispensing container engages the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Surface Technologies IP AG
    Inventors: Pietrandrea Gabriele Ficai, Pierre Somers
  • Patent number: 8439089
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a temporary mobility kit for repairing tires, including: an air compressor; a sealant assembly selectively connected to the air compressor; a sealant hose in the sealant assembly, configured to connect the air compressor to a tire valve; and a first circuit configured to assess a connection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yingchao Guan, Kimberly Ann Steele, Darryl L. Jones, Zhi Qiang He, Sergey Maryanovsky
  • Publication number: 20130105042
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products and implementing techniques for mixing liquid components. Quantities of two or more liquid components are transferred from pressurized source reservoirs to one or more destination locations by means of a fluid outlet that includes a dispense valve, and the two or more liquid components are mixed in the destination locations to create a plurality of fluid mixtures. Two or more dispensing technologies can be combined to provide for increased efficiency in the dispensing of high volume liquid components. The amounts of liquid components being dispensed can be monitored during the dispensing to provide feedback control of the dispensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: FREESLATE, INC.
    Inventor: Freeslate, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8424572
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of material transferred in a system having a plurality of material feeds and concurrent material transfer periods. The method comprising steps of: supplying each of a primary material having a target weight and a secondary material, to a receiving vessel; determining a decision threshold; feeding the primary material to the receiving vessel, feeding the secondary material into the receiving vessel as or after the primary material begins feeding and before the decision threshold, determining a feed status of the primary and secondary materials at the decision threshold; changing the feed status of one of the primary or secondary materials at the decision threshold; and feeding only the primary material within a feed alone time period until the target weight amount is fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Chunsheng C Fu
  • Patent number: 8408255
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ValidFill, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Ken Kemski, Peter Dorney
  • Patent number: 8408257
    Abstract: A liquid medicine dispensing device includes a rotary unit 12 which rotates while holding a plurality of original drug vials 100, and a conveyance mechanism that conveys a prescription bottle 110 in the horizontal direction on the underside of the rotary unit 12. Each of the original drug vials 100 is connected with a discharge nozzle 17 to which a discharge valve 26 is attached, and an air nozzle 29 connected with a pump and an atmospheric relief valve. When discharging liquid medicine, the prescription bottle 110 is conveyed in advance to a position that is directly below an original drug vial 100 required for dispensing. In that state, the original drug vial 100 is inverted by rotating the rotary unit 12 by 180 degrees, and the discharge valve 26 is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ono, Masanori Hamamoto, Yoshiyuki Kojo, Akihiko Maruyama, Hideaki Kubonoya
  • Patent number: 8393363
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a system for recalculating a formula previously used in preparing a mixture made from adding at least two components. The system includes a control apparatus and scale. The control apparatus has a memory for storing the mixture formula. The scale, in communication with the control apparatus, allows the control apparatus to monitor a weight on the scale, such that a final weight of the mixture is stored on the memory. When an end weight of the mixture, defined to be the final weight of the mixture previously prepared minus an amount used by a user, is positioned back on the scale and when the control apparatus receives a recalculation signal, the control apparatus calculates the amount used, recalculates the mixture based on the amount used, and stores a new mixture for subsequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: SureTint Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell H. Saranow, Charles C. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 8393358
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a system for recalculating a formula previously used in preparing a mixture made from adding at least two components. The system includes a control apparatus and scale. The control apparatus has a memory for storing the mixture formula. The scale, in communication with the control apparatus, allows the control apparatus to monitor a weight on the scale, such that a final weight of the mixture is stored on the memory. When an end weight of the mixture, defined to be the final weight of the mixture previously prepared minus an amount used by a user, is positioned back on the scale and when the control apparatus receives a recalculation signal, the control apparatus calculates the amount used, recalculates the mixture based on the amount used, and stores a new mixture for subsequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: SureTint Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mitchell H. Saranow
  • Patent number: 8353318
    Abstract: A medical liquid filling system and associated methods are provided, the system comprising a disposable and a drive system. The disposable includes a tubular member and a piston slidably disposed within the tubular member for retraction and advancement within at least a first portion of the tubular member. The disposable may include a seal member for sealing the first portion of the tubular member and may be interconnected to the piston for co-movement therewith. The drive system may include a piston drive member selectively interconnectable to the piston for driven advancement and retraction of the piston within the tubular member. The drive system may be interconnected to a controller, which may be operable to automate or semi-automate various filling operations. A user interface may be interconnected to the controller for providing input of various system operation parameters, which may be communicated to the controller to facilitate automated or semi-automated operation of the filing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Baxa Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Vincent Ranalletta, Loren Havener Hutchins, IV, Michael Dickson Olichney
  • Patent number: 8336582
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a method for preparing a hair dye mixture. The method includes a scale and control system in communication with each other. The control system provides for a memory and a display, wherein the memory contains a formula defining instructions for blending a hair dye mixture. The method displays the instructions on the display. The stylist may then view the display of instructions and then adds to a receptacle on the scale, colorant(s) and dye blending material(s) in accordance with the instructions by using hair color manufacturers' standardized packaging, such that non-standardized or specialized packaging of colorants and/or dye blending materials are not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Mitchell H. Saranow
  • Patent number: 8333301
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of a beverage by mixing water and at least one powdered product in a mixing chamber and dispensing the mixture to a final container. The method includes preparation and delivery of at least a first portion of beverage by mixing a first soluble product with water, either in the absence of mechanical stirring or with rotating a rotor at a rotor rotation speed of less than 500 rpm. The method also includes the preparation and delivery of at least a second portion of beverage by mixing a second soluble product with water in the presence of mechanical stirring and for the delivery of further portions of beverage to the final container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Rhea Vendors S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luca Doglioni Majer
  • Patent number: 8333223
    Abstract: An ice guiding apparatus of a dispenser for a refrigerator is disclosed. The ice guiding apparatus of the dispenser for the refrigerator, in the dispenser provided in the refrigerator and outwardly provides ice pieces, comprises: a fixing guider formed at the dispenser; and a moving guider for guiding the ice pieces to be outwardly provided by moving along fixing guider. According to the ice guiding apparatus of the dispenser for the refrigerator, it is capable of preventing interference between an ice discharge opening and an ice container putted at the dispenser and precisely guiding the ice pieces into the ice container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang-Wook Seo
  • Patent number: 8286671
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to an automated apparatus for filling capped needle syringes. The syringes are held in a rotatable motor controlled carousel. The carousel turns to place a syringe proximate to a dispenser mechanism. A rotatable plate on top of the dispenser mechanism holds an automated cap extractor/installer and at least one inverted vial having a needle perforatable surface. The rotatable plate can also move up and down relative to the top of the dispenser mechanism. The cap can be removed by the automated cap extractor/installer and the rotatable plate rotated to place the inverted vial over the exposed syringe needle. The rotatable plate can descend so that the needle perforates the surface of the vial. A syringe plunger tool of the dispenser mechanism engages the syringe plunger and pulls it downward. The syringe plunger tool can disengage and return to its original position. The rotatable plate can raise to remove the needle from the vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Saverio Roberto Strangis
  • Patent number: 8281822
    Abstract: An in-vehicle hydrogen storage apparatus has a hydrogen gas filling passage connected from a hydrogen gas filling port up to the storage device that stores a hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell, and an odorizing agent supplying device that supplies an odorizing agent to hydrogen gas in at least one of the inside of the storage device and the inside of the hydrogen gas filling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuji Hirakata
  • Patent number: 8276623
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for filling one or more product containers with a liquid comprising one or more medicines. The device comprises a housing at least provided in a position of use with an array of medicine containers, at least some of which are provided with concentrated liquid components of the one or more medicines. The housing is also provided with an automatic machine which is adapted to manipulate a syringe for measured take-up of liquid from a medicine container. The automatic machine is adapted to rotate the medicine container transversely of its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Medical Dispensing Systems B.V.
    Inventors: Sander Godfried Van Vreeland, Jan Willem Dorpema
  • Patent number: 8267108
    Abstract: A liquid metering device that dispenses liquid into an adjacent reservoir at a precise ratio relative to the total volume of the adjacent reservoir as the reservoir is filled with liquid. The hydrostatic dispensing system includes an additive reservoir, a calibrated dispensing vessel, a hydrostatic pressure chamber, and a three-way valve that passively arms and dis-arms the system. The precise dispensing of liquid by a calibrated dispensing vessel into the adjacent reservoir is accomplished entirely through the management and arrangement of hydrostatic pressure creating a liquid piston generated by the addition of liquid to the adjacent reservoir and its subsequent application to the liquid in the calibrated vertical column that displaces the calibrated volume of liquid into the reservoir at the same rate that liquid is added to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl L. Hammonds
  • Patent number: 8261780
    Abstract: A chemical dispenser reads RFID tags on both chemical source and diluted chemical mixture containers. A dispensing button shifts and electric controller from low to high power state for such reading and initiation of dispensing when data read from such tags is determined compatible. A battery powers the controllers in both power states. A selector valve for selecting a chemical concentrate at one of several source stations also provides selected station information to the controller. A controller learn mode stores data from RFID tags on the concentrated chemical containers, with the controllers initiated in a high power state in response to entering the learn mode. An alternate embodiment substitutes an alternative receiving container such as a mop bucket, and a dispensing nozzle is provided with an RFID reader for reading an RFID tag on the alternative container. Methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Thomas, Joseph Morin, Brian D Rau
  • Patent number: 8256647
    Abstract: A valve assembly for dispensing a plurality of flowable materials, such as viscous fluids or powders, comprising a valve member having a plurality of inlets for the plurality of flowable materials and dispense outlets communicating with the inlets and a closure having one or more openings in a pattern that corresponds to the pattern of at least some of the outlets. The valve member and the closure are movable relative to each other between a closed position in which the outlets are closed and at least one dispensing position in which one or more openings in the closure are at least partially in register with the dispense outlets thus clearing the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fluid Management Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marcel Engels, Marcus Johannes Voskuil, Goran Aleksijovski, Rob van Leeuwen
  • Patent number: 8251105
    Abstract: A kit for repairing and inflating inflatable articles has a compressor unit for producing compressed air; a container containing sealing fluid injectable into the inflatable article by means of a stream of compressed air from the compressor unit; a fluid line designed to connect the compressor unit to the inflatable article; and a sensor for determining a connection status to the inflatable article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tek Global S.R.L.
    Inventors: Sergio Lolli, Maurizio Marini
  • Patent number: 8245739
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ValidFill, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Ken Kemski, Peter Dorney
  • Patent number: 8220503
    Abstract: An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: FHT, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Tribble, Joel A. Osborne, Abdul Wahid Khan, Edward J. Lefebre
  • Publication number: 20120152404
    Abstract: Device to deliver fluid products, comprising a plurality of canisters, each containing a predetermined fluid, and connected to an associated delivery unit. The device comprises a rotating support, on which the plurality of canisters and the delivery units are mounted, able to position at different moments of time and according to one or more predetermined sequences, one or more desired and selected delivery units in a corresponding delivery position, in order to deliver predetermined quantities of fluid in an exit container so as to obtain a final product with a desired final composition and/or formula. The device further comprises mixing means for mixing the fluids contained in the canisters and a movement member, for moving the mixing means. The movement member comprises a mixing cam element, substantially circular, concentric to said rotating support and rotatable with respect to it, in at least a reciprocal condition of release between the rotating support and said mixing cam element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CPS COLOR EQUIPMENT SPA CON UNICO SOCIO
    Inventors: Giuliano Solera, Daniele Dall'Olio, Leopoldo Mazzalveri
  • Publication number: 20120152406
    Abstract: Improved custom cosmetic formulation dispensing system including ingredients reservoirs for syringe dispensing. The ingredients reservoirs are carried by a translatable carrier to bring the respective reservoirs into dispensing alignment with a package, into which a preselected amount of the ingredient is dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: COSMETIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Julie R. Bartholomew, Richard T. Jobe, Thomas C. Bodiker, II, Timothy E. O'Meara, Dave Hanselman, Jim Foley
  • Patent number: 8201592
    Abstract: A method for filling a container (16) with a preparation consisting of a number of components, stored in a number of sub containers (1, 23), placed inside a housing (29). A robot, accommodated inside the housing (29), composes the preparation based upon a supplied prescription and places the sub containers (1,23) containing the components mentioned in the prescription one by one above the container (16) and makes flow out an amount of the respective component as specified by the prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Medical Dispensing Systems B.V.
    Inventors: Sander Godfried Van Vreeland, Jan Willem Dorpema
  • Patent number: 8196618
    Abstract: A dispenser and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed. The dispenser includes a first section of ice discharge duct that receives ice supplied from an ice supplier, a second section of ice discharge duct that receives the ice guided by the first section, and a third section of ice discharge duct that receives the ice guided by the second section. The third section guides the ice through an outlet positioned in front of a surface of a door of the refrigerator. The dispenser also includes a first coupling mechanism located at the second section and a second coupling mechanism located at the third section. The first and second coupling mechanisms are configured to engage and disengage with each other to enable removal of the third section from the second section and attachment of the third section to the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seong Jae Kim, Nam Gi Lee
  • Publication number: 20120138192
    Abstract: A filling machine for filling a container with a pourable food product, comprising a tank, a support structure, a first fluidic line through which food product may flow, connected with the tank and connectable with the inner volume of the container a filling valve and a distributor comprising at least two ducts defining, with a cavity of filling valve, at least partially a second fluidic line along which a fluid may flow; distributor element comprising a first and a second control valve may either be left open in respective first configuration over the whole operation of filling machine or be displaced between open and closed configuration during a step of the operation of filling machine on the basis of one parameter between the nature of container and the nature of pourable food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Simone Campi, Paolo Tedoldi, Annalisa Malfatto
  • Patent number: 8176951
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for in-line processes of blending butane into gasoline streams, and for blending butane into a gasoline stream at any point along a petroleum pipeline. The invention additionally provides a method for measuring the vapor pressure and vapor to liquid ratio of the gasoline, both upstream and downstream of the blending operation, as well as the sulfur content of the butane entering the blending operation. The blending operation can be controlled to ensure that the blended gasoline meets EPA requirements for vapor pressure and sulfur content of gasoline. The invention further provides a method for accessing and monitoring the operation off-site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sunoco Partners Butane Blending LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur
  • Patent number: 8176950
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a dosage includes a base frame, at least one device for receiving any dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit that is compatible to be inserted therein, a holder and at least one drive mechanism. The holder has at least one holding position for a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit. A weighing cell arranged on a lower horizontal plane of the base frame includes a load receiver to receive a target container. A changing mechanism enables the receiving device to be moved horizontally relative to the base frame. This horizontal shift allows a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit to be interchanged between the holding position and the receiving device. The changing mechanism also permits the receiving device, together with the drive mechanism, to be moved vertically with regard to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 8151834
    Abstract: A hydrogen compressor system comprises a hydrogen generating apparatus for generating hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell vehicle and a multi-stage reciprocating compressor for pressurizing the hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen generating apparatus. High pressure tanks having maximum use pressure of 20 MPa are connected to middle stages of the multi-stage reciprocating compressor by gas supplying lines via valves. By opening/closing the valves, hydrogen gas in the high pressure tanks can be selectively supplied to the middle stages of the multi-stage reciprocating compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kurita, Shigeru Arai, Akinori Akanuma, Youichirou Fukai, Haruo Miura
  • Patent number: 8141596
    Abstract: Improved custom cosmetic formulation dispensing system including ingredients reservoirs for syringe dispensing. The ingredients reservoirs are carried by a translatable carrier to bring the respective reservoirs into dispensing alignment with a package, into which a preselected amount of the ingredient is dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Julie R. Bartholomew, Richard T. Jobe, Thomas C. Bodiker, II, Timothy E. O'Meara, Dave Hanselman, Jim Foley
  • Patent number: 8141599
    Abstract: White-pigmented and unpigmented base paints and stains are custom-tinted using an automated colorant dispenser having a minimum fluid dispensing quantity less than 0.01 fluid ounce (<0.3 cm3) and an array of colorants including a green-hued colorant having a color strength greater than that of a comparison colorant containing 12 wt. % PG7 pigment, a blue-hued colorant having a color strength greater than that of a comparison colorant containing 7 wt. % PB15:2 pigment, and a red-hued colorant having a color strength greater than that of a comparison colorant containing 17 wt. % PR209 pigment. The green-hued or blue-hued colorants are dispensed into the base paint or stain whenever a green-hued or blue-hued tint is required. Light pastel tints in small containers and strong colors in large containers may be prepared without requiring the use of additional colorants having the same general hue and lower color strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Valspar Sourcing, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Korenkiewicz, Mark R. Coward, David Y. Lee
  • Patent number: 8127805
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing system has a container with an upper lip, a bottom and a cylindrical sidewall. A read/write radio frequency identification tag is on a container. A beverage dispenser has a plurality of dispensing valves associated with a plurality of different beverages. Each valve has an actuator. A reader is operatively coupled with respect to the tag for communicating with the tag and for communicating with the actuator. An electronic system is operatively coupled to the tag and the actuators and the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: ValidFill LLC
    Inventor: Peter Dorney
  • Patent number: 8096331
    Abstract: A machine for filling containers, comprising dispensing heads, in which each dispensing head comprises at least two ports, which are connected to respective ducts for feeding different liquids, and is provided with elements for controlling the flow of the ducts which are controlled by automatic control elements which act as a function of the quantity of the individual portions of the different liquids that are meant to be introduced in a container, and are adapted to produce a sequential opening of only one of the ports, so as to fill each container by preset portions of the liquids which access sequentially the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Weightpack S.R.L.
    Inventor: Renato Marogna
  • Patent number: 8069885
    Abstract: A service station, in particular a hydrogen service station for filling a motor vehicle with a gaseous and/or a liquid medium, in particular with gaseous or liquid hydrogen, is disclosed. The station includes a) a reservoir for storing a liquid medium, b) a liquid medium dispensing unit which is supplied with the liquid medium from the reservoir, c) a compressor, an evaporator, a heating system, and an intermediate reservoir for intermediate storage of a compressed gaseous medium, d) a gaseous medium dispensing unit mounted downstream of the intermediate reservoir, e) a fuel cell which is supplied by the gaseous medium coming from the reservoir and/or the intermediate reservoir and supplies power to the compressor, and f) a control unit which is powered by the fuel cell and used for controlling the compressor, the gaseous medium dispensing unit and/or the liquid medium dispensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tobias Kederer, Henning Tomforde
  • Patent number: 8056588
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a mixture of water and one of a plurality of concentrated formulas is disclosed. The dispenser comprises a housing that includes an electronic controller, a water inlet connected to a pressurized water source, and a water inlet valve that is electrically controlled and connected to the controller. A mixture reservoir is in fluid communication with the water inlet valve and a mixture outlet through which the mixture of water and one of the concentrate formulas exits the dispenser. A plurality of concentrate reservoirs each adapted to receive the concentrated formulas are each in fluid communication with the mixture reservoir. Each concentrate reservoir has a valve connected to the controller and capable of delivering a metered volume of the concentrated formula into the mixture reservoir when signaled by the controller. A selector knob is electrically connected to the controller and has at least one manually selectable position representative of each concentrate reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Kendall Bancroft Somerby
  • Patent number: 8042579
    Abstract: A quantitation setup mechanism (58) is composed of a piston (62) which is incorporated into a quantitation tank (61) to define therein a metering chamber (63), a quantitation setup portion (65) for presetting a quantity of paint replenishment, and a sensor (66) adapted to detect a displacement of the piston (62) preset by the quantitation setup portion (65). In this instance, paint is replenished into a paint chamber (19) of a cartridge (16) by means of a paint feed mechanism (32). In the course of the paint replenishment, an equivalent amount of an extruding liquid is displaced and discharged from an extruding liquid chamber (20). The displaced extruding liquid is introduced into the metering chamber (63) of the quantitation setup mechanism (58), detecting a quantity of displacement of the extruding liquid by replenished paint by the sensor (66) through the piston (62) to exactly quantitate the paint replenishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: ABB K.K.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20110247723
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling vehicle tires with nitrogen and especially to a customer operated tire inflation system for filling vehicle balloon tires with nitrogen. A plurality of tanks of nitrogen are mounted for rotation on a lazy susan and are connected to a hose on a reel having a tire filling valve on the end thereof for unreeling and filling a vehicle tire. A credit or debit card reader controls a hose reel lock and flow from the nitrogen tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Janice Lachman
  • Patent number: 8020590
    Abstract: Nozzle for filling a container with at least a first and a second viscous or paste-like material, of the type including an outer cylindrical body having a delivery mouth. The nozzle has at least two cylindrical chambers, placed inside an outer cylindrical body and fluidly separated, for the respective passage of the first and of the second viscous material, each of the at least two chambers having an outflow section of the relative viscous material substantially positioned in correspondence to a delivery mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: TGM Tecnomachines S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Togni
  • Patent number: 8011395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tablet feeding device for supplying tablets accommodated in a tablet feeder to vials by supplying a power source from a surface side of the tablet feeder to a rotor of the tablet feeder and further allowing many tablet feeders to be mounted with high density. The tablet feeder 21 has a stationary guide member 119 having a stationary tilt plate 119c and a movable guide member 121 having a movable tilt plate 121c. The stationary tilt plate 119c is disposed adjacent to a tablet outlet 112 of the tablet feeder 21 and guides the tablets discharged from the tablet outlet 112 to the vials 4. The movable tilt plate 121c is movable between a receiving position and an operating position in association with an attachment and detachment of a driving means 202 with the tablet feeder 21. The movable tilt plate 121c overlaps with the stationary tilt plate 119c at the receiving position and continues to the stationary tilt plate 119c at the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Yuyama
  • Patent number: 8011394
    Abstract: The invention includes a material dispenser that further includes a container containing material, a press plate or puck for exerting pressure on the material, a sensor for detecting the material discharged from the container, and a scale for detecting the amount of material discharged from the container. The sensor and scale provide feedback to a computer which controls the amount of pressure exerted on the material. The computer controls the pulsing of additional material from the container until a targeted amount of material has been discharged from the container. The invention permits the dispensing of a specific amount of material in a controllable, metered fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: GFI Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luehrsen, John Borkovec, Derek P. Pedraza
  • Patent number: 8002000
    Abstract: A bag-on-valve aerosol valve system in a container is provided. Propellant is pressure filled around the valve stem, outwardly over the stem gasket and down into the container space outside the bag. Product is filled through the valve stem into the bag. The valve stem has an exterior intermediate frusto-conical annular surface and the valve housing has an interior frusto-conical annular surface, with both surfaces engaging in annular sealing contact to block propellant access to the bag when the valve stem is deeply depressed to a first predetermined position for propellant pressure filling. A stem exterior surface indent interacts with radially-biased spring-loaded slides to lock the stem in a second less depressed predetermined position for product filling through the stem down into the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Precision Valve Corporation
    Inventor: Louis Pericard
  • Patent number: 7997304
    Abstract: A medical liquid filling system and associated methods are provided, the system comprising a disposable and a drive system. The disposable includes a tubular member and a piston slidably disposed within the tubular member for retraction and advancement within at least a first portion of the tubular member. The disposable may include a seal member for sealing the first portion of the tubular member and may be interconnected to the piston for co-movement therewith. The drive system may include a piston drive member selectively interconnectable to the piston for driven advancement and retraction of the piston within the tubular member. The drive system may be interconnected to a controller, which may be operable to automate or semi-automate various filling operations. A user interface may be interconnected to the controller for providing input of various system operation parameters, which may be communicated to the controller to facilitate automated or semi-automated operation of the filling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Baxa Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Vincent Ranalletta, Loren Havener Hutchins, IV, Joshua Nathan Aumiller, Michael Dickson Olichney