Processes Patents (Class 177/1)
  • Patent number: 10242522
    Abstract: An electronic locker includes a plurality of cabinets, a measurement unit capable of measuring a dimension of an object, and a controller. The controller compares the dimension of the object measured by the measurement unit with a table of dimensions of the plurality of cabinets stored previously to select a cabinet suitable for the dimension of the object out of the plurality of cabinets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nishimura, Kimiaki Toshikiyo
  • Patent number: 10235416
    Abstract: A method for controlling a seat is performed by a mobile device in cooperation with a database. The database contains at least one reference data set which contains a physical characteristic data and a seat setting data. The method includes the steps of: a) upon receipt of an input, searching the database to identify which one(s) of the at least one reference data set contains the physical characteristic data that matches the input, the one(s) serving as candidate data set(s); and b) when a total number of the candidate data set(s) identified in step a) is one, outputting, to the seat, the seat setting data contained in the candidate data set for controlling the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jon-Chao Hong, Kai-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 10235566
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for utilizing digital aerial images to determine stockpile volumes. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods utilize a UAV to capture a plurality of digital aerial images portraying stockpiles on a site. The disclosed systems and methods can generate a two-dimensional representation of the site and a three-dimensional representation of the site based on the plurality of digital aerial images. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods can apply an elevation filter to the three-dimensional representation of the site to identify potential stockpiles. Further, the disclosed systems and methods can utilize a neural network to analyze two-dimensional features and three-dimensional features of the potential stockpiles to identify final stockpiles. The disclosed systems and methods can then utilize three-dimensional stockpile representations to determine stockpile volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SKYCATCH, INC.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Ruben Alvarez Gonzalez, Manlio Francisco Barajas Hernandez, Leonardo Felipe Romo Morales, David Chen
  • Patent number: 10215620
    Abstract: In one example, we describe a method and system for tables, beds, chairs, cabinets, bags, boxes, or appliances, to find the weight of an object or human conveniently and reliably, using Z-casters. Z-caster is based on Z-numbers, which is a pair of (A,B), where A is the value of the weight (based on and expressed as a Fuzzy parameter/value), and B is the reliability for that (expressed here as a Z-number). The calibration method is also described. Each basic unit has 2 types of sensors: for coarse measurement (just as a switch, with a rough/Fuzzy threshold) and for fine measurement. Many variations, examples, applications, and materials are shown here.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: BTPATENT LLC
    Inventor: Lotfi A. Zadeh
  • Patent number: 10151646
    Abstract: Disclosed is a force sensor and an apparatus having the sensor for measuring weight. The force sensor and apparatus can enhance detection sensitivity by amplifying a displacement of an elastic body having high strength, thereby measuring weight. The sensor includes: a base; an elastic structure provided as a housing disposed on the base, and downwardly deformed when weight is applied to the elastic structure; an adjusting member coupled to an upper surface of the elastic structure by penetrating the upper surface; a lever disposed below the elastic structure, and amplifying a displacement of the elastic structure transferred via the adjusting member by being in contact with the adjusting member; a sensor disposed above the base, and generating an electric signal indicative of a distance from the sensor to the lever; and a circuit board disposed between an upper surface of the base and a lower surface of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: i2A SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pilwon Heo, Gwangmin Gu
  • Patent number: 10140724
    Abstract: A method of operating a dimensioning system to determine dimensional information for objects is disclosed. A number of images are acquired. Objects in at least one of the acquired images are computationally identified. One object represented in the at least one of the acquired images is computationally initially selected as a candidate for processing. An indication of the initially selected object is provided to a user. At least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing is received. Dimensional data for the object indicated by the received user input is computationally determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation
    Inventors: Virginie Benos, Vincent Bessettes, Franck Laffargue
  • Patent number: 10132674
    Abstract: A loading weight detection device applicable to various mobile bodies can accurately detect loading weight with minimized number of input variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: National University Corporation Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
    Inventor: Yutaka Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10130177
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide a visual indication of a weight of products stocked on a display assembly, such as a shelf of a shelving unit. The visual indication is provided by virtue of the display assembly having a product support member with a curved configuration that sequentially flattens as additional weight is added thereto. A laser device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and oriented to determine a distance to the product support member and a control circuit can be configured to receive the distance and analyze the distance to determine a deflection of the product support member to determine a current stock level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Matthew A. Jones
  • Patent number: 10106332
    Abstract: Automatically adjusting the amount of material delivered by a conveyor belt includes measuring the speed of a drive pulley that drives the conveyor belt and determining the weight of material dispensed onto the conveyor belt from at least one material dispenser on a real-time, ongoing basis. Based at least in part upon such speed and weight measurements, an electronic controller repeatedly adjusts the speed of the conveyor belt by dictating the output of at least one motor that drives the drive pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: BJ Services, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Naizer, Ronnie Hughes
  • Patent number: 10098355
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically removing dough pieces from overhead dough proffer, weighing the dough pieces and reinserting them back in to the process stream. The weight information is analyzed to determine whether it represents the weight of pieces or the empty scale weight, and may be used to provide a signal proportional to the weight of a dough portion, or group of dough potions in order to automatically adjust the rate at which dough is fed to the dividing mechanism, thereby increasing or decreasing the dough piece weights to maintain the desired amount of dough per piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: BAKERY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Hebenstreit
  • Patent number: 10072966
    Abstract: A method and system for removing and accounting for scrap removed from a facility by providing a plurality of collection bins for one or more customers to collect scraps, providing a weigh station having a scale to weigh the scrap collected, providing a computer to record and keep track of the total scrap collected by each customer, providing a plurality of waste bins to discard the scrap collected in the collection bin, and accounting for the total scrap collected for each customer on-site before the waste bins are removed for permanent disposal. The collection bins of each customer can be monitored using a tracking system, such as a tag and reader, GPS device, camera, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ADVANCED STEEL RECOVERY, LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Frankel
  • Patent number: 10068199
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a data audit system to generate and cause display of a tracking interface at a client device, wherein the tracking interface is configured to facilitate the visualization of tracking data retrieved from multiple sources. The audit system is configured to access a data source to retrieve tracking data that includes an associated asset identifier that identifies a subject of the tracking data, to link the retrieved tracking data to a data object at a database of the audit system based on the asset identifier, and to generate and cause display of a visualization of the tracking data within a tracking interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Palantir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah Hwang, Daniel Lidor, William Rhyne
  • Patent number: 10062046
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a unit of work in a material-handling process includes a set-point of work units desired at a material-processing station and an actual measure of work units at the material-processing station. A feedback control algorithm is performed to establish the set point of work units at the material-processing station and an error between the work units at the material-processing station and the set-point of work units at the material-processing station. The feedback control algorithm also determines a desired amount of units that should be supplied to the material-processing station as a function of the error. The feedback control algorithm causes a work unit to be released from the inventory store for a particular processing station when the actual amount of work units supplied to that processing station is less than the amount of work units that should be supplied to that processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventor: Richard W. Ogden
  • Patent number: 10053837
    Abstract: A brake control unit operates a mechanical brake when a slewing operation amount detected by a slewing operation amount detection unit indicates slewing stop and when a slewing speed detected by a slewing speed detection unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. A time measurement unit measures a brake operation time period during which a brake operation detection value detected by a brake operation detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold. When the mechanical brake is operated and when the brake operation time period measured by the time measurement unit exceeds a predetermined reference time period, a slewing control unit stops outputting a slewing command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Doi, Kazushige Koiwai
  • Patent number: 10053104
    Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for determining a gross combined weight of a vehicle and its load is disclosed. A method includes: providing predetermined calibration settings relating force to engine speed for a specific vehicle travelling at various speeds, altering accelerometer data based on filtered vehicle pitch and roll data, determining that one or more vehicle performance parameters fall within a threshold range, storing a plurality of data pairs that include longitudinal acceleration and drive force, and determining a slope of a line that linearly approximates the plurality of data pairs, the slope indicating a total weight, the total weight comprising a weight of the vehicle and a weight being hauled by the vehicle; and transmitting the total weight to a remote system for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Seth Myer
  • Patent number: 10029529
    Abstract: A controller for determining a load weight associated with a plurality of pneumatically independent circuits of a vehicle suspension system is adapted to identify each of the respective pneumatically independent circuits, in turn, as a currently selected one of the pneumatically independent circuits, measure a respective pneumatic pressure of the currently selected one of the pneumatically independent circuits, determine a calculated pneumatic pressure based on the respective measured pneumatic pressures of the pneumatically independent circuits, determine the load weight based on the calculated pneumatic pressure, and control an operation of a function of an associated vehicle based on the load weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Macnamara, Jon D. Intagliata
  • Patent number: 9901104
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a poultry packaging system includes a first receiving unit operable to receive a plurality of orders for poultry product, wherein the poultry product is either a whole or a portion of a poultry bird; a second receiving unit operable to receive at least one measurable parameter of at least one poultry bird from a measurement unit; a recommendation unit operable to determine which of the plurality of received orders best corresponds to the received at least one measurable parameter, and a control unit operable transmit a signal to a poultry processing system such that the poultry processing system processes the at least one poultry bird in accordance with the determined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ISHIDA EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventor: Ulrich Carlin Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9823275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrical measurement apparatus (10). The electrical measurement apparatus (10) comprises a measurement arrangement (20,24) configured to be disposed in relation to an electrical circuit (12,14,16,18) which bears an electrical signal, the measurement arrangement (20,24) being operative when so disposed to measure the electrical signal. The electrical measurement apparatus (10) further comprises a signal source (22) operative to apply a reference input signal to the measurement arrangement (20,24) whereby an output signal from the measurement arrangement comprises an electrical output signal corresponding to the electrical signal and a reference output signal corresponding to the reference input signal, the reference input signal having a substantially piecewise constant form which is repeated over each of plural cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Seyed Amir Ali Danesh, William Michael James Holland, John Stuart, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz
  • Patent number: 9818287
    Abstract: A load-indicative alarm system alerts an operator as to a load. The load-indicative alarm system includes a load-measuring device, a controller, and an alerting device. The load-measuring device for provides a load indication. The controller determines a load level by acquiring the first load indication from the load-measuring device. The alerting device is configured to alert the operator. The controller is configured to instruct the alerting device to alert the operator if the current load level is above a minimum threshold. The alerting device provides a load-indicative alert that informs the operator of the load level being above the minimum threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Altec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel D. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9800180
    Abstract: Information regarding a rotational speed is detected by utilizing a variation in the amplitude at a frequency corresponding to the number of a plurality of protrusions of a vibrating member generated in an S-phase signal detected from a vibration detection electrode of a vibration-type actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Sumioka
  • Patent number: 9767034
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of operating a first-in first-out memory (9) arranged to store measurement data samples measured by a plurality of data measurement sensors (1, 3, 5), which can operate at various sampling rates. The oldest measurement data sample in the memory (9) is arranged to be read first before the newer measurement data samples. The method comprises: receiving measurement data samples from at least two data measurement sensors (1, 3, 5); and saving the received measurement data samples in the memory (9). Each of the measurement data samples saved in the memory is associated with a tag which is also saved in the memory (9) and which identifies the data measurement sensor (1, 3, 5) which measured the respective measurement data sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: EM MICROELECTRONIC-MARIN SA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Daga, Alexandre Deschildre
  • Patent number: 9766618
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a given work product plan specifying a set of constituents to be used in forming a given work product, each constituent having one or more properties, the given work product being associated with a given class of work products. The method also includes obtaining information associated with one or more existing work product plans for one or more existing work products in the given class from a knowledge database and selecting proportions of the set of constituents to be used in forming the given work product based at least in part on distributions of characteristics associated with types of constituents used in forming existing work products in the given class and of properties of constituents used in forming existing work products in the given class. The method further includes generating an updated work product plan for the given work product specifying the selected proportions of the set of constituents to be used in forming the given work product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Debarun Bhattacharjya, Florian Pinel
  • Patent number: 9739656
    Abstract: In a dynamic scale and a weighing method therefor, an object to be weighed is received on a weighing unit of the dynamic scale and weight information of the object on the weighing unit is detected by the weighing unit. The weight information includes a number of items of weight information, which are supplied to a processor, and a derived weight value is determined in the processor by evaluation of a predetermined number of the items of weight information, and a quality value for the derived weight value is also determined in the processor by evaluation of the predetermined number of items of weight information. Depending on the quality value, it is established, in the processor, that the derived weight value is a valid weight value and, when it is established that the derived weight value is a valid weight value, the weighing unit is then fed with a new object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Kieser, Volker Baum, Andreas Blume, Karsten Von der Waydbrink
  • Patent number: 9726535
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to load cell assemblies configured for measuring loads or weight associated with a semi-trailer. In one embodiment, a load cell assembly includes a shear plate load cell configured to be coupled between a frame and a support member of the semi-trailer. The shear plate load cell detects or measures the trailer's weight with a sensor positioned on a strain sensing section of a plate. The strain sensing section is positioned at a location offset from the plate's centerline. The shear plate load cell is accordingly configured to provide an ideal moment balance that allows accurate load measurements independent of where the load is applied relative to the load cell or the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Reichow, Bill Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9693696
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the instance disclosure are physiological data updates using a weighing scale and a user wearable device. Specific embodiments concern an arrangement of devices including a user wearable device and a weighing scale. The weighing scale is configured and arranged to monitor a plurality of physiological signals of the user using current-impedance electrodes and select data indicative of a physiological parameter of the user, for display on the user wearable device, based on a threshold value and the plurality of physiological signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Physiowave, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Kovacs, Richard M. Wiard
  • Patent number: 9671275
    Abstract: A minibar weighing machine for weighing a minibar refrigerator includes a receiving portion for receiving an underside of a minibar which is directed towards the minibar weighing machine where at least part of the minibar weighing machine and at least part of the minibar are arranged in a common, horizontal plane when the minibar is positioned in a weighing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignees: SOEHNLE INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS GMBH, DOMETIC DIENSTLEISTUNGS-GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Gerster, Steffen Gross, Michael Althaus
  • Patent number: 9663012
    Abstract: System and methods for managing operations of one or more machines are disclosed. One method includes receiving first information relating to an operation of a dump body of a hauling machine operating in at least a partially autonomous manner, determining a failure condition of the operation based at least on the received first information, transmitting a notification relating to the failure condition, and causing a boost pressure to be applied to the dump body of the hauling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Vitale, Jeffery McCullough, Thomas Brooks, Michael Hudson
  • Patent number: 9551624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the tensile force of a long object, in which the sensor (1) and the display unit (6) can be separated from one another and, if that is the case, communicate in a wireless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Honigmann Industrielle Elektronik GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Herhaus
  • Patent number: 9523601
    Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing a hopper gate of the present invention, which is used in a combination weigher which performs combination calculation based on weights of objects, to find a combination in which a total of the weights of the objects falls within an allowable range with respect to a target weight, comprises an actuator (31) for generating a driving force for opening and closing the hopper gate (14A); a transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force to the hopper gate (14A); a detecting device (60) capable of detecting an original point of a rotary shaft of the transmission mechanism, the original point corresponding to a position in which the hopper gate (14A) is closed; and a controller (18) capable of receiving an output signal of the detecting device (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: YAMATO SCALE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagai, Koji Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9459136
    Abstract: A robot (1) having a workpiece mass measurement function for measuring the mass of a workpiece that is held, includes a force measurement unit (5) that measures the force that is applied to the tip part (2) of the mechanism part of the robot (1), and a mass estimation unit (11) that estimates the mass of the workpiece that is held by the robot (1), based on information about the force acquired by the force measurement unit (5) while the robot (1) is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 9422072
    Abstract: An object collecting and discharging device, comprises an inner collecting chute; an outer collecting chute, a first discharge path having a first upper opening and a first lower opening; a second discharge path having a second upper opening, a third upper opening and a second lower opening; a third discharge path having a fourth upper opening and a third lower opening; a fourth discharge path having a fifth upper opening and a fourth lower opening; a fifth discharge path having a sixth upper opening, a seventh upper opening and a fifth lower opening; and a sixth discharge path having an eighth upper opening and a sixth lower opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: YAMATO SCALE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Kikuchi, Kazuo Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 9366271
    Abstract: Provided is a slewing type construction machine including an upper slewing body and a slewing speed sensor that detects a slewing speed of the upper slewing body, enabling accurate control to be achieved regardless of an error in output from the slewing speed sensor. The construction machine includes an upper slewing body, a slewing motor, a hydraulic pump, a control valve, a slewing operation device, a slewing brake, a slewing speed sensor, a slewing operation detector that detects an operation applied to the slewing operation device, and a controller. The controller stores, during a slewing operation, a slewing speed detected by the slewing speed sensor at set time intervals, actuates the slewing brake based on a neutral return operation of the slewing operation device, and resets a stored value of the slewing speed that is stored during actuation of the slewing brake, to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuharu Tajima, Koji Ueda
  • Patent number: 9352911
    Abstract: An idler roller (1) for a belt conveyor and an idler roller assembly (41). The idler roller (1) comprises an elongate static shaft (3), a rotatable drum (5) mounted about and substantially surrounding the static shaft (3) and at least one bearing (7, 9) intermediate the shaft (3) and the rotatable drum (5). The idler roller (1) further comprises a load cell mounted on the static shaft internal the rotatable drum (5). The static shaft comprises a load cell section that is weakened relative to the remainder of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Michael John Hearn
  • Patent number: 9354104
    Abstract: A combination of a hardware-secured reject bin and a programmed controller that together function to create an interlock that limits access to a reject bin to only those users with specific access rights. Access is gained by entering a user ID or some other authorized reject bin user access information into the user interface of a checkweigher controller or another controller in communication with a checkweigher controller. Access attempts and events may be tracked and the removal of objects from an interlocked bin may be recorded to provide for improved object traceability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: METTLER-TOLEDO, LLC
    Inventor: Kyle Thomas
  • Patent number: 9335202
    Abstract: A weighing apparatus is provided that quantifies an impact load based on an electrical output from a mass sensor to prevent damage to the mass sensor by disclosing the degree of impact to a user. The weighing apparatus includes a weighing unit on which an object is placed and a mass sensor that receives the mass×acceleration of gravity of the object as a load and measures mass from an electrical signal corresponding to displacement of an internal structure of the apparatus. The apparatus quantifies and records the amount of the displacement, and determines acceleration by a numerical calculation from the displacement data. The obtained acceleration quantifies the amount of impact applied on the weighing apparatus by the object, and may be used to warn the user when the weighing apparatus is in danger of damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: A&D Company, Limited
    Inventors: Naoto Izumo, Yuji Fukami
  • Patent number: 9301447
    Abstract: A control arrangement and method for controlling the transfer of agricultural crop from a harvesting machine to a transport vehicle comprises a loading container. The control arrangement is able to be operated to automatically deposit the crop during the harvesting mode successively at different points in the loading container, following a predetermined loading strategy, by means of a discharging device of the harvesting machine, where the loading strategy may be changed and/or a choice may be made between different loading strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Georg Kormann
  • Patent number: 9302894
    Abstract: A method for filling containers with multi-component flowable media may include filling a first component into the container to be filled by means of a first filling assembly, transporting the container filled with the first component of the liquid to a second filling assembly, and filling a second component of the liquid into the container to be filled with the first component by means of the second filling assembly. After filling the first component into the container, a filling quantity of the first component is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Poeschl, Josef Doblinger
  • Patent number: 9260253
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assisting in controlling the supply of material onto a conveyor from a material dispenser include the use of a discharge control device coupled to each dispenser gate of the material dispenser. The discharge control device includes at least one wiper configurable to level the top of at least some of the material dispensed onto the conveyor through the material dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Brent Naizer, Ronnie Hughes
  • Patent number: 9228884
    Abstract: A weighing system (100) comprises a platform scale (50) on which a container containing objects is placed; and a hand-operated combination weigher 10 including a plurality of weighing trays 12 on which the objects are put; wherein a controller of the weighing system (100) derives a target weight of the objects in the combination weigher (10) using a weight of the container which is weighed by the platform scale (50); and the controller selects a combination of the weighing trays (12) so that a combination weight of the objects on the weighing trays (12) falls within an allowable range of the target weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: YAMATO SCALE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shozo Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 9217661
    Abstract: A multi-head weigher has a plurality of heads operable to hold and discharge product; first and second discharge chutes arranged to receive product discharged from respective first and second subsets of the plurality of heads and each operable to selectively deliver said product to a first location or a second location; and a combinational weight determining system operable to determine a combination of one or more heads which meets a target criterion, and to discharge product from the determined combination through their respective discharge chute(s) to the first location. When a predetermined condition has occurred, the combinational weight determining system can discharge product from that head(s) to the second location via the discharge chute arranged to receive product from that head(s), when said discharge chute is not being used to deliver product to the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ishida Europe Limited
    Inventor: Nickolas Martin Clark
  • Patent number: 9146150
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of, as well as an apparatus for, weighing items of poultry, such as poultry or chicken carcasses, in conjunction with a meat processing systems (5, 7). The method includes: a first step of providing a weighing bridge (1) having force measuring means (25) with two load cells; a second step of conveying a suspended item of poultry in a predefined path extending over the weighing bridge (1); a third step of transferring substantially the weight of the suspended item of poultry onto the weighing bridge; and a fourth step of reading out values detected by the load cells of the force measuring means (25); and calculating an actual weight using an average of the detected force values over a predetermined period of time. The apparatus includes components for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Foodmate BV
    Inventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, Mark Thomas Gustaaf den Boer, Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
  • Patent number: 9127978
    Abstract: A system for rapidly and precisely measuring and recording changes and fluctuations in weight of respective divided body parts occurred from moment to moment in a given position is provided. In the system, divided body part weighing units for separately weighing all body parts and a measurement controlling and data processing unit for controlling the weighing units and for receiving the measured data from the weighing units and are connected so as to be freely transmittable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventors: Tadao Kurata, Sumiko Kurata, Noriko Kurata
  • Publication number: 20150122554
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for check weighing of materials and a check weighing device thereof. Accurate weighing of materials is achieved through physical deformation of a sensing device (1) caused by a vertical downward force. When the induction device (2) detects the materials, the main transmission device (30) stops rotating and the vertical downward force on the weighing device transferred to the suspension mechanism (50) through the weighing device (40). The sensing device (1) deforms under the action of vertical downward force exerted by the suspension mechanism (50) to determine the weight of materials. Comparing prior weighing readings of materials after being proportioned with weighing readings of check weighing, the main transmission device (30) drives the materials to continuously move, the process of check weighing of materials is accomplished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Yu, Weimin Zhai, Duohu Wang
  • Publication number: 20150114728
    Abstract: Weighing device used with piece goods, having a belt conveyor, one or more below positioned scales of rigid arrangement and a support for goods being weighed. The belt conveyor has at least two belts. The support has at least one support extension guidable through between the belts, and the belts can move toward the scale such that support extensions are guided through between the conveyor belts without moving themselves. Goods moved on the belts are laid upon the support extensions and weighed. The conveyor unit above the scale is moveable, in its entirety, towards the weighing scale. Conveyor movement end positions are damped. The conveyor is moved by a single actuator, and at least two weighing scales are used with different weighing regions. A coating installation for car exhaust gas catalyst carriers is provided with the weighing device. A method of weighing piece goods using the weighing device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Joachim Gempp
  • Patent number: 9018544
    Abstract: Disclosed are various applications of differential torque sensing, seeking to maximize the sensing power of servo motors in applications that have a wide torque range. In one embodiment, a transmission (200) combines a constant, relatively larger torque provided by a primary drive motor (220) and a smaller, variable torque provided by a servo motor (23), to form an output torque for driving a mechanical assembly (222). A relatively small change in mass of the system causes a perturbation from ambient operating speed. The servo motor, under control of a servo amplifier (232), quickly adjusts the secondary, variable torque to return the system to the ambient operating speed. Thus the servo motor torque accurately reflects the change in mass of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: RAF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Turner
  • Publication number: 20150101869
    Abstract: Eccentric loading errors of a weighing cell (1) with a parallel guiding mechanism are determined and corrected or at least reduced. The weighing cell has a test weight actuating device (14), by which at least one test weight (15) is positioned successively on at least three test weight support points (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) of the test load receiver (4) that do not lie in a straight line. A processor unit (21) uses a control signal (S1) to position the test weight on the support points. A test weighing signal (T) is generated for each support point, and from these, eccentric loading errors are ascertained. A device for correcting the eccentric loading errors uses control signals (S2) from the processor unit to make a geometrical-mechanical change in the parallel guiding mechanism, using a first and a second actuating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
  • Publication number: 20150096811
    Abstract: A method determines the consumption of electrode material during the operation of an electric furnace, particularly an arc furnace for producing steel. The method determines a weight of an electrode column, which is arranged in the electric furnace or is to be introduced into the electric furnace, using a weighing device. A device for determining the consumption of electrode material of an electric furnace, particularly an arc furnace for producing steel, is provided for performing the method. The device contains a weighing device for determining the weight of at least one electrode column which is arranged in the electric furnace or is to be introduced into the electric furnace, wherein the weighing device is integrated in an operating device of a system containing the electric furnace. Vibration conditions of the electrode column during operation of the electric furnace can also be determined with the method and with the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: FRANZ-XAVER WERNER, STEFAN FISCHER, MARTIN CHRIST
  • Publication number: 20150096810
    Abstract: A seat occupancy determination device configured to be provided at one of seating portions of a plural vehicle seats includes a pair of seat occupancy amount detection devices detecting a seat occupancy amount increasing and decreasing in response to a change of a load applied to each portion of the seating portion, a seat occupancy state determination device determining a seat occupancy state of the vehicle seat, an unbalanced load detection device detecting a degree of unbalance of the load applied to a right portion and a left portion of the seating portion, and a seat occupancy threshold value setting device setting a seat occupancy threshold value and correcting the seat occupancy threshold value in response to the degree of unbalance of the load applied to the right portion and the left portion of the seating portion based on a detected signal transmitted from the unbalanced load detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao HONDA, Yoshiaki TOMATSU, Yusuke TAKAHASHI, Tomomi TOMIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20150090503
    Abstract: In a scanner-scale system for passing items through a read zone over a weigh platter of the scanner-scale, the system including an item overhang detection system operable for providing an output upon sensing that an item overhangs beyond an edge of the weigh platter, systems and methods are disclosed for using output from the item overhang detection system to both (1) reduce erroneous weighing upon sensing that an item overhangs beyond an edge of the weigh platter (such as by alerting the operator that an item overhang condition has been detected and thus prompting the operator to reposition the item so as to be fully on scale) and (2) initiate an alternate function of the scanner-scale independent of weighing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Alexander M. McQueen, Matt D Schler
  • Patent number: 8993902
    Abstract: A method that makes provision for a volume of a batch of laundry to be ascertained in a water-removal press downstream of the washing machine. The volume of the batch of laundry can be reliably determined in a simple manner in the water-removal press, without the performance of the washing machine being adversely affected as a result. On the basis of the subsequently ascertained volume of the batch of laundry, the weight of the batches of laundry with which the washing machine is then to be loaded can be corrected such that the said batches of laundry and also subsequent batches of laundry have a volume which at least approximately corresponds to the receiving volume of the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Bringewatt, Engelbert Heinz