Rotary Patents (Class 221/222)
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Patent number: 11993414Abstract: Systems and methods for filling and sealing a container can include a housing having an opening for receiving containers, a rotary assembly including mount assemblies disposed in the housing, the rotary assembly operable to rotate the of mount assemblies about a central axis, a washing station, a filling station, a steam injector, and cap setter disposed in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: Boomerang Water, LLCInventors: Jason Dibble, Marc Haydt, Zach Hilton
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Patent number: 11918152Abstract: A touchless food dispenser. The touchless food dispenser includes one or more types of food stored therein, one or more removable nozzles, and one or more nozzle replacement mechanisms. The touchless food dispenser is configured to dispense the food through the one or more removable nozzles. The one or more nozzle replacement mechanisms are configured to remove the one or more removable nozzles and replaces the one or more removable nozzles with a different removable nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Inventors: Bryan Hakim, George Hakim, Gabe Hakim, Christian Haller
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Patent number: 11634242Abstract: Systems and methods for filling and sealing a container can include a housing having an opening for receiving containers, a rotary assembly including mount assemblies disposed in the housing, the rotary assembly operable to rotate the of mount assemblies about a central axis, a washing station, a filling station, a steam injector, and cap setter disposed in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Boomerang Water, LLCInventors: Jason Dibble, Marc Haydt, Zach Hilton
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Patent number: 11412884Abstract: A method of operating a beverage preparation machine that permits automated preparation of a variety of beverages. A plurality of stations add ingredients to a beverage container and process the contents directly in the container in some embodiments. Parallel preparation of more than one beverage may be performed in some embodiments. A robotic arm moves the beverage container to the stations. The robotic arm may include a weight sensor as part of controlling the addition of ingredients.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: KERRY GROUP SERVICES INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: John Michael Herbert, Bryan R. Hotaling, John A. MacNeill, Scott A. Leclerc, Matthew Naples, Patrick J. Devine
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Patent number: 11180329Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing lids from a stack of nested lids, including a magazine containing a stack; a denesting unit arranged at a bottom of the magazine to detach lids from the stack bottom; and denesting rollers each of which has a lower shelf, a first upper shelf above a bottom shelf, and a second upper shelf above the first upper shelf. Some of the rollers comprise a first separator, and other denesting rollers comprise at least a second separator. The rollers are rotatable between a rest position in which the stack rests on the lower shelves; a single release position in which the first separators engage the stack to detach the last item from the stack bottom; and said rest position and a multiple release position in which the second separators engage the stack to detach at least the last two items from the stack bottom.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: EVOCA S.P.A.Inventor: Dan Alexie Sirbu Villa
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Patent number: 11116352Abstract: A beverage preparation machine permits automated preparation of a variety of beverages. A plurality of stations add ingredients to a beverage container and process the contents directly in the container in some embodiments. Parallel preparation of more than one beverage may be performed in some embodiments. A robotic arm moves the beverage container to the stations. The robotic arm may include a weight sensor as part of controlling the addition of ingredients.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Kerry Luxembourg S.à.r.l.Inventors: John Michael Herbert, Bryan R. Hotaling, John A. MacNeill, Scott A. Leclerc, Matt Naples, Patrick J. Devine
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Patent number: 11077563Abstract: A picking device for picking up plate-like or pillar-shaped workpieces one at a time from the top of the workpieces stacked in the vertical direction, the workpiece picking device including: a chuck including a plurality of gripping claws arranged around a topmost workpiece, the plurality of gripping claws configured to grip a side surface of the topmost workpiece, the chuck being movable in a vertical direction; and an air blowing circuit provided inside at least one of the gripping claws, including a blowing port having an opening toward a second workpiece, the air blowing circuit configured to blow air downward from the blowing port.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Kyouhei Asao, Naoki Akagawa
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Patent number: 11058231Abstract: A disposable cup dispenser has an assembly made of thermoplastic material or another material of equivalent characteristics, the disposable cup dispenser being made of a laminar structure comprising a lower base, an upper closure lid, and a magazine formed by a set of modular elements, which can be fitted together vertically. Each modular element has a thin laminar structure, and one of the ends is provided with a uniform enlargement strip that is deployed to receive the end opposite the enlargement strip of another modular element.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Spring Venture Investment Corp.Inventors: Luciano Missurini, Mauro Moreira de Lima
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Patent number: 10865017Abstract: A mold for forming a lid having a cap connected to the lid by a tether. The mold has mold features for forming a lid body having a peripheral edge, a cap, a tether connecting the cap to the lid body, and a tear zone. The mold feature for forming the tear zone includes an elongate ridge located between the mold feature for the tether and the mold feature for the lid body for providing a reduced thickness flow path proximate the ridge that connects between the mold feature for forming the lid body and the tether.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: DeRoyal Industries, Inc.Inventors: Walter C. Cowart, Randall Harris
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Patent number: 10549933Abstract: A dispensing device that comprises vertical guidings for receiving a stack of a plurality of trays, a separating device for dispensing individual trays in a downward direction and a tray discharge device that has multiple rotating lifting elements. The dispensing device includes lifting elements that are formed cylindrically and have a comb structure with at least two immersing protrusions that extend in parallel to one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KGInventor: Bernhard Fickler
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Patent number: 10124614Abstract: A printer includes a conveyor that feeds objects from a stack of nested objects to the printer. The conveyor includes a member having protuberances that extend from the member to hold the lips of objects in the stack except for the object closest to the printheads in the printer. A spindle mounted to a member is moved to be within an orifice of the object closest to the printheads to engage that object and pull it from the stack. The spindle rotates to facilitate the printing of the object. After the object is printed, it is released from the spindle and gravity directs the printed object along a ramp to an opening in the printer for collection.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Michael F. Leo, Wayne A. Buchar, Brendan C. Casey, Daniel J. McVeigh
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Patent number: 10043692Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing device, a substrate accommodation-status detection device, a substrate-transport device including a first substrate-transport sub-device which unloads substrates from a carrier and a second substrate-transport sub-device which unloads the substrates from the carrier, a control device including processing circuitry which controls the first and second substrate-transport sub-devices based on detection result of the substrate accommodation-status detection device.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRONICS LIMITEDInventors: Go Ayabe, Kouji Takuma
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Patent number: 9984525Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for managing inventory within a vending apparatus are disclosed. The vending apparatus includes a robot, which is configured to include a camera or a sensor. The vending apparatus contains one or more storage containers filled with items for sale, and the one or more storage containers may include indicia that are readable by the robot and provide information to outside parties. The robot is configured to monitor the items for sale within the vending apparatus, as well as the level of inventory within each storage container. The vending apparatus may transmit information relating to its included items for sale to an external server, where maintenance and refreshment operations can be implemented in an efficient, cost-effective manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.Inventors: Gary Edward Will, Brian Rosner, Bryan Keith Solace
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Patent number: 9446901Abstract: A storage device includes: a storage member having, in the vertical direction, a plurality of parallel storage sections that are capable of storing plate-like members; and a first lifting and lowering mechanism that causes the plate-like members, stored in the storage member, to move integrally in the vertical direction, while the position of the storage member in the vertical direction is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirotoshi Yamagata, Akira Kishida, Atsushi Okada, Toshimichi Satou
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Patent number: 9345340Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing cutlery may include a housing configured to contain a plurality of utensils for dispensing, a dispensing mechanism comprising at least one pair of indexing members configured to separate a utensil from a stack of utensils, and a receptacle configured to receive the utensil separated from the stack of utensils. A dispensing mechanism may alternatively include a plurality of linked members configured to separate a utensil from a stack of utensils.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Richard S. Walters, Morgan J. Lowery
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Patent number: 9226612Abstract: In the coffee machine (1) exhibiting a selective loading device of a coffee capsule into an infusor, the loading device comprises at least an advancement line (L) exhibiting at least a motorized conveyor screw (11) for step movement of at least a stack (6) of capsules (7, 9) along a support and guide channel (14) of the advancement of the stack (6) of capsules (7, 9) towards a release section (8), and manual command means for enabling the advancing by a step of said at least a stack of capsules (7, 9), the channel (14) exhibiting, at an upper side thereof, windows (16) having a complementary shape to the capsules (7, 9) for introduction thereof with a compulsory orientation suitable for correct use with the conveyor screw (11).Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2012Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: De'Longhi Appliances S.r.l.Inventor: Giuseppe De'Longhi
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Publication number: 20140175115Abstract: A disk-shaped object dispenser includes a trough disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation for holding disk-shaped objects face to face. A guide is disposed at one end of the objects and movably engaged to the trough to urge the objects toward a dispending end. The guide is urged by a biasing device. A dispensing blade is disposed at an end of the trough and is movable transversely to a direction of the trough. The dispensing blade holds the disk-shaped objects in place when in a rest position and separates a forwardmost one of the objects when moved while retaining in place a remainder of the objects. A separator is operatively coupled with the dispensing blade and having a device to rotate fingers on lateral ends thereof. The fingers engage a bottom of the object separated by the blade to urge the separated object away from the dispensing blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Kennik Innovations, LLCInventors: Kenneth T. Walsh, Nicholas Walsh
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Patent number: 8733121Abstract: A frozen treat dispenser (11) dispenses a snow cone and/or a slushy, and has at least an ice storage bin (14) for storing ice (10), a cup de-nesting mechanism (49) to separate a cup from a stack having a plurality of cups, an ice grinder (21) to grind ice from the ice storage bin to produce snow (82), a flavor dispenser (25), a cup transport mechanism (23) to move the cup to a first position (40A) whereby the ice grinder can at least partially fill the cup with the snow and to a second position (40B) whereby the flavor dispenser can dispense at least one flavor onto the snow in the cup, and a processor (152) to control the operation of at least one of the cup de-nesting mechanism, the ice grinder, the flavor dispenser, or the indexer.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Inventor: Richard J. Soderman
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Patent number: 8714406Abstract: A container denester apparatus which overcomes, among other problems, the problems identified above. The denester apparatus positively controls the flanges of the container so as to individually denest a lowermost container from a stack of containers. The apparatus protects the container by spreading the force required to denest the container along much of the flange structure. In addition, the stack of containers above the lowermost container are retained, again along much of the flange structure of the immediately adjacent container.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Lakewood Process MachineryInventors: Dale Miedema, Randy Miedema
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Patent number: 8662088Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling under gravity from a hopper (9), a storage device (2) for articles that has the form of a columnar cavity between opposed side walls with a mass flow of mutually parallel rod-shaped articles descending from the hopper, a cavity-filling device (12) that alternates in use between a closed configuration that blocks a downward flow of the said articles through the device and an open configuration that allows flow of the articles through the device, the device being movable in translation, in alternate upward and downward strokes within the cavity, being in the closed configuration on the downward stroke and in the open configuration on the upward stroke.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland SP . Z O.O.Inventors: Radoslaw Owczarek, Adam Gielniewski
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Patent number: 8589787Abstract: The invention includes system for centralized rendering of user interface elements based on configurations as described in XML. A developer may create a definition for a field based on the nature of the information to be displayed to a user within a single file. Such definition will affect all future instances of the particular data type without a need to modify and/or compile code residing either within an HTML file or on a server.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Suzanne K Berlin, Sonali Bimal Bose, Sitaram Inguva, Chintamani Maheshwar Chhatre
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Patent number: 8407068Abstract: A medicine management apparatus includes: a medicine storage which stores a plurality of medicines used at a site of medical care; a storage and retrieval detector which, when a medicine handling personnel manipulates the apparatus to store or retrieve an accommodated medicine to be accommodated in the apparatus, physically detects the target accommodated medicine for which the apparatus is manipulated, differentiating it from the other accommodated medicines; and a counter which counts each type of the plurality of accommodated medicines. An injection prescription receiver receives injection prescription data from an external prescription analyzer. A retrieval determining unit determines whether the accommodated medicine detected as being retrieved is the accommodated medicine directed by the injection prescription data to be retrieved.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Tosho Inc.Inventors: Shiro Ohmura, Eiichiro Indei, Yoshihito Ohmura
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Patent number: 8365950Abstract: A medicine dispensing device has a device body (1), shelf members (2) arranged in the vertical directions in the device body (1), and a medicine conveyance member (3) for conveying medicines (D), received in the shelf members (2), on one by one basis from the front face side of the device body (1). A shelf member (2) has cassettes (26) in which medicines (D) are received in line, a pusher (31) for pushing the medicines in the cassettes (26) toward the front face side of the device body (10), and a constant load spring (32) for applying a constant load to the medicines (D) received in the cassettes (26) through the pusher (31). To fill the cassettes (26) with the medicines (D), the shelf member (2) can be pulled out from the front face side of the device body (1) and then positioned by pivoting the shelf member (2) so as to face obliquely downward.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Hiroyuki Kanda
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Publication number: 20120145741Abstract: A disk transferring device transferring disks delivered one by one from an disk reception opening to an disk ejection opening includes: a disk guide path having left and right guide surfaces that guide a peripheral surface of each of the disks and front and back guide surfaces that guide an front surface and a back surface of the disk, the disk guide path extending from the disk reception opening toward the disk ejection opening; and a plurality of disk pushers protruding into the disk guide path and pushing the disks by making a rotational movement about a plurality of rotational axis lines approximately at a right angle with respect to the front and back guide surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.Inventor: Minoru ENOMOTO
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Patent number: 8132492Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a deployment device that is operative to deploy Special Material (SM) to protect the vehicle when an enemy infrared (IR) threat is present. The deployment device constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one, and preferably a pair of canisters which are each filled or loaded with SM, then factory sealed to prevent oxidation or contamination. Each of the canisters included in the deployment device includes an input shaft which, when rotated, is operative to transmit the rotary motion to each of four threaded rods. The rods have two primary functions, which are to advance a piston thereby preloading the SM within the canister toward the open end thereof, and to turn rotary metering devices which are located at the open end of the canister. The advancing piston maintains consistent compression in the SM stack within the canister.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Meggitt Defense SystemsInventors: Roger D. Brum, Mark A. Imhoof
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Patent number: 8061157Abstract: A refrigerator is shown having a dosing unit for dispensing ice pieces one by one from an icemaker.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Arcelik A.S.Inventor: Cumhur Ayvazoglu
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Patent number: 8020725Abstract: A medicine dispensing apparatus which allows a prescribed quantity of medicines to be reliably taken out based on prescription data.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Masahiko Kasuya, Akitomi Kohama, Masatoshi Warashina
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Patent number: 7942597Abstract: An assembly structured to restrict contamination of individuals from association with the heads of stethoscope comprising a housing including a path of travel along which the head portion passes. Different embodiments include the dispensing of cleaning fluid or the delivery of protective barriers onto predetermined portions of the stethoscope heads, while passing along the path of travel. A dispenser assembly and a cooperatively disposed activating assembly are manually operated by moveable, driving engagement with the head portion passing through the housing. The activating assembly is thereby operatively positioned to activate the dispenser assembly when engaged by a head passing along the path of travel. Differently structured dispenser assemblies function to either deliver the cleaning fluid or individually dispense the barriers onto different heads, so as to either facilitate the cleaning or protective covering of exposed surfaces of the stethoscope heads, dependent on the embodiment utilized.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Seedlings Life Science Ventures, LLCInventors: Michael Perlman, James M. Sellers, Keith Rubin, Mathew Cardinali, Michael R. Cole, Sidney Perlman
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Patent number: 7857164Abstract: Device for selection of capsules containing a food product from a, stack of capsules contained in a container, comprising a body (10) which delimits a passage (20) through which the capsules pass by gravity; first stop means (30, 31, 32, 33) for selectively retaining and releasing said first capsule (90); actuating means (8) for actuating said stop means (3, 30, 31, 32, 33) between a stop position and a release position. The first stop means (3, 30, 31, 32, 33) are distributed about the circumference of the passage (20) and are able to move by turning transversely, and simultaneously, towards the inside of the passage to a stop position in order to form several support points distributed under the capsule (90).Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Christian Jarisch, Alfred Yoakim
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Patent number: 7806292Abstract: A towelette dispenser is provided with an integrally molded lid. The lid has a central aperture for allowing access to a roll of towelettes maintained within a tub receiving the lid therein. The separation bar bridges the aperture, and provides a rip fence in the form of a fingered thimble that is angled with respect to the lid as a whole. The thimble is offset near one edge of the annular opening so that a user may access the back side thereof to thread an edge of the leading towelette through the thimble without having to remove the lid from the tub. A well is provided in the smaller portion of the aperture and a cap for the lid is provided with a stuffer tab to urge the leading edge of the next towelette into the well when the cap is closed. Barrier caps are also provided to seal the interior of the tub during shipment and storage before the first use of the towelette dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Inventor: Nelson E. Simkins
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Publication number: 20100116841Abstract: An assembly structured to restrict contamination of individuals from association with the heads of stethoscope comprising a housing including a path of travel along which the head portion passes. Different embodiments include the dispensing of cleaning fluid or the delivery of protective barriers onto predetermined portions of the stethoscope heads, while passing along the path of travel. A dispenser assembly and a cooperatively disposed activating assembly are manually operated by moveable, driving engagement with the head portion passing through the housing. The activating assembly is thereby operatively positioned to activate the dispenser assembly when engaged by a head passing along the path of travel. Differently structured dispenser assemblies function to either deliver the cleaning fluid or individually dispense the barriers onto different heads, so as to either facilitate the cleaning or protective covering of exposed surfaces of the stethoscope heads, dependent on the embodiment utilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Michael Perlman, James M. Sellers, Keith Rubin, Mathew Cardinali, Michael R. Cole, Sidney Perlman
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Patent number: 7487886Abstract: The present invention relates to a more robust article dispensing apparatus that is relatively simple in construction and usage for dispensing articles in a clean and protective environment. More specifically, the apparatus accepts, separates, and dispenses articles from a nested stack of articles such as beverage cup lids one at a time.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Autpmatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Thomas R. Hecht
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Patent number: 7434704Abstract: A medicine feeder is composed of: a cassette (2) for housing medicines D in an array; a biasing member (6) for biasing the medicines D in the cassette (2) toward one end side; and a discharge member (16) disposed on one end portion of the cassette (2) for holding a medicine D in a holding recess portion (18) and discharging the medicines D one at a time by rotating the discharge member. This makes it possible to ensure the discharge of a prescribed quantity of medicines based on prescription data.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2003Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Shinji Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 7320780Abstract: A sterilizing unit for food, pharmaceutical and like products, packaged in rigid or soft containers, includes at least an autoclave adapted to receive, through at least an access door and through a loading/unloading unit, at least a container wherein are arranged packages. Advantageously, the autoclave is vertically arranged and includes internally vertical conveying device designed to be subjected, by a motoring mechanism for loading and unloading them in a step-by-step forward movement through the access door(s) for containers in the form of shelves.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2002Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Inventor: Patrice Camu
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Publication number: 20070284388Abstract: A device for separating individual cup-shaped containers from a stack of such containers is provided, including a frame, a separating mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, and a power transmission mechanism. The separating mechanism includes at least a pair of screw rods arranged on opposite sides of the frame and substantially parallel to and spaced from each other to receive the stack therebetween. The power transmission mechanism is coupled to the screw rods by mated gears for driving rotation of the screw rods. The screw rods have screws engaging outer rim of each individual container and having an increased pitch whereby when the screw rods rotate, the container is driven forward in a given direction and is increasingly spaced from the other containers due to the increased screw pitch. The adjusting mechanism is coupled to the screw rods to selectively adjust the distance between the screw rods for accommodating containers of different specifications.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2006Publication date: December 13, 2007Inventor: Benker P. C. Liao
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Patent number: 7270248Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing flexible lids includes a housing having a lid stack holder for containing a coaxial stack of lids. Lids are supported within a substantially coaxial channel of the lid stack by a pair of opposing indexing shafts that rotate upon operation of a user operable drive device to pass a bottom-most lid to a discharge area. The drive device may be calibrated to rotate the indexing shafts by an adjustable amount that is determined, at least in part, by the height of each lid and/or the spacing between lids in the stack. Further, the housing may be constructed from a fixed housing portion and an adjustable housing portion. The adjustable housing portion allows the spacing between the indexing shafts to be adjusted to correspond to the circumference of the lids currently being dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Inventor: Roy D. Schroeder
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Patent number: 7207462Abstract: A dispenser is adjustable to contain beverage container lids of various sizes. A housing has a front element with an opening. Pager assemblies are mounted in slots which extend radially outwardly from the opening. A stack of lids is inserted into the housing through the opening, and the pager assemblies allow a single lid to be extracted from the stack by the pivoting of a door containing two claws which engage the frontmost lid. To reconfigure the dispenser for a different lid size, a template is positioned frontwardly of the housing front element, and the pager assemblies are adjusted to abut the template, thereby configuring the pager assemblies in the proper position. The claws on the lid are then replaced with claws which are configured to the new lid shape.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Acry Fab, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey E. Gunderson, William R. Laupan
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Patent number: 7152757Abstract: A coupling for connection of a tube comprises a coupling housing which includes a first end into which the tube is inserted, a clamping ring which is positioned in the coupling housing against a first conical surface, a sealing ring which is positioned in the coupling housing, and a return ring which is positioned in the coupling housing between the clamping ring and a second end of the housing adjacent a second conical surface that is tapered opposite to the first conical surface. The return ring is expandable and comprises a central aperture which is smaller than the external diameter of the tube. Accordingly, when the tube is pushed into the coupling housing and forced through the return ring, the return ring will expand and move along the second conical surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Doug Huffer, Fred Lowery, Gary Petersen, Keith Gausmann, Samuel Marino, Gary Myers, Jamison J. Float, Jay F. Perkins, Steve Pever, Robert Hayes, Michael T. Kopczewski, Paul E. Hsu, Douglas G. Schaefer, Brent L. Burchfield, Jeffrey T. DeBord
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Patent number: 7086562Abstract: Devices and methods for holding a tray stack having a plurality of trays configured to carry and store microelectronic devices. Several devices in accordance with the present invention are particularly applicable to carrying a stack of JEDEC trays that have been loaded with a plurality of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is a tray retainer including a guide structure configured to allow the tray stack to move in a direction of a load/unload path, and to restrict lateral movement of the tray stack with respect to the load/unload path. The guide structure can have a first end, a second end, and an opening at least proximate to the second end. The guide structure, for example, can have first and second channel sections extending in the direction of the load/unload path. The second channel section can also face the first channel section. The tray retainer can also include a cross-member and a moveable retaining element.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2001Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Darin L. Peterson, Michael R. Slaughter, Keith P. McCall
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Patent number: 7066708Abstract: Devices and methods for holding a tray stack having a plurality of trays configured to carry and store microelectronic devices. Several devices in accordance with the present invention are particularly applicable to carrying a stack of JEDEC trays that have been loaded with a plurality of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is a tray retainer including a guide structure configured to allow the tray stack to move in a direction of a load/unload path, and to restrict lateral movement of the tray stack with respect to the load/unload path. The guide structure can have a first end, a second end, and an opening at least proximate to the second end. The guide structure, for example, can have first and second channel sections extending in the direction of the load/unload path. The second channel section can also face the first channel section. The tray retainer can also include a cross-member and a moveable retaining element.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1999Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Darin L. Peterson, Michael R. Slaughter, Keith P. McCall
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Patent number: 6866470Abstract: Devices and methods for holding a tray stack having a plurality of trays configured to carry and store microelectronic devices. Several devices in accordance with the present invention are particularly applicable to carrying a stack of JEDEC trays that have been loaded with a plurality of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is a tray retainer including a guide structure configured to allow the tray stack to move in a direction of a load/unload path, and to restrict lateral movement of the tray stack with respect to the load/unload path. The guide structure can have a first end, a second end, and an opening at least proximate to the second end. The guide structure, for example, can have first and second channel sections extending in the direction of the load/unload path. The second channel section can also face the first channel section. The tray retainer can also include a cross-member and a moveable retaining element.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2001Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Darin L. Peterson, Michael R. Slaughter, Keith P. McCall
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Patent number: 6824010Abstract: A selective actuating apparatus involves a barrel 17 rotated due to rotation of a driving motor 2, a revolving shaft 3A supporting rotatably the barrel 17, and a barrel 16 rotated as a result of transmitting torque in the case where the barrel 17 is rotated in a direction b indicated by an arrow wherein a cam section 16B is defined on the barrel 16. In this condition, when the barrel 17 rotates in a direction a indicated by an arrow, the torque does not transmit to the barrel 16, but the barrel 16 is allowed to displace along the revolving shaft 3A due to sliding motion in between a projection 16A formed on the barrel 16 and a projection 17D formed on the inner circumference of the barrel 17 in a stepped manner. As a result, the selective actuating apparatus by which a plurality of driving objects can be driven without requiring a plurality of driving sources, so that its driving system can be downsized is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hajime Erikawa
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Patent number: 6786359Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing objects including for example, container lids for beverages such as soft drinks, coffee, tea, and juice. For example, a coaxial stack of lids is loaded into a housing of the dispenser. Upon actuation of a the dispenser, the bottom-most lid in the stack of lids is delivered to a discharge area by passing the bottom-most lid through a nip point defined between a pair of oppositely rotating indexing shafts. Once the bottom-most lid is delivered to a discharge area, the indexing shafts are brought to rest.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Inventor: Roy D. Schroeder
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Patent number: 6695698Abstract: A dispensing game system includes a prize capsule storage hopper above two automatic hopper loaders that replenish the game below with prize capsules as needed. Two Ferris wheels carry free swinging gondolas that receive and hold the prize capsules from the loaders. Two or more player-activated actuator arms located next to the outer edge of the Ferris wheels are used to hit targets attached to the moving gondolas, in turn causing the gondolas to tip forward and release the prize capsule, which then falls down and rolls into the prize opening for the player to collect.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2000Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Pixy Games, Inc.Inventors: Python Anghelo, Bryan Hansen, William Pfutzenreuter
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Patent number: 6560946Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributor that enables covers to be fitted automatically on containers in a chamber without requiring assistance from an operator. It mainly comprises a slider (5) mounted to slide between two plates (3 and 4). The queued covers (2D) are positioned on a lowering and introducing system (11) equipped with three double-fingers (20) that enable the last bottom cover to be selected in each cycle in order for it to drop onto the slider (5). A carrier cell (7) in said slider is used to displace the selected cover towards a positioning cell (9) of the lower plate (4) and drop it onto a container that has been previously introduced by said cell.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Campagnie Generale des Matieres NucleairesInventors: Christian Orange, Philippe Hunaut
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Patent number: 6550638Abstract: Disclosed is a cup-supplying apparatus for supplying tapered cylindrical cups stored in a stack, which comprises cup dispensers each supplying lowest cup from cups stored in a stack; a unit generating a force for cup-supplying; force-transmitting members each transmitting the cup-supplying force to a corresponding cup dispenser; and means for selecting one of the force-transmitting members to be supplied with the cup-supplying force; whereby the cup-supplying force generated by the force-generating unit is transmitted to the selected force-transmitting member so that the lowest cup is supplied for use by the corresponding cup dispenser, wherein the cup dispenser may be provided with a lever, the force-generating unit may comprise a motor and a cam, the force-transmitting member may be a slider provided between the lever and the cam, and the selecting means may be a mechanism for moving the cam up and down to a position where the slider can transmit the cup-supplying force from the cam to the lever of the corrType: GrantFiled: November 27, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yukihide Mochida
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Patent number: 6539833Abstract: The present invention relates to a dropping device, preferably borne by a carrier aircraft, for distributing interference medium and especially electronic raspberry. The device according to the invention represents in principle an improvement to the device known through SE 8302508-0 and it is characterized firstly in that it has been provided with separately rotatable accelerator shafts (14, 15), which have the dual function firstly of acting as locks for an unwanted feed-out of interference medium packs (4) and secondly, when a feed-out has been activated, of executing this and giving the fed-out interference medium pack (4′) an increased feed-out speed, partly due to the device having been provided with a totally new, specially configured indexing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Saab ABInventor: Christer Zätterqvist
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Patent number: 6490782Abstract: An automated filter changing system comprises a rotatable filter dispensing assembly and a filter clamping assembly. The filter dispensing device receives filter storage magazines in which a plurality of filters are initially stored in the form of connected stacks. The filter dispensing assembly includes a filter separating device having a stationary portion. The filter separating device separates one or more stacks of filters into discrete filter units, such that individual filters are transported sequentially from the filter dispensing device. The filter clamping assembly operates in conjunction with the filter dispensing device to receive one or more individual filter units dispensed therefrom, and provides one or more coupling sites which can fluidly communicate with one or more fluid lines. The filter clamping device couples unused filters to fittings associated with the fluid lines by applying an evenly distributed force to the filters.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Varian, Inc.Inventor: Gregory S. Duckett
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Patent number: 6443689Abstract: The apparatus comprises a screw device (10) arranged to deliver the articles one at a time, in a manner spaced from the others, after withdrawing them from a vertical pile resting on it, means for counting the articles delivered by the screw device (10) and, downstream thereof, a continuous track (20) along which the articles slide in a stacked arrangement and which leads the stacks containing a predetermined number of articles to a final station (50) in which the stacks are positioned horizontally or inclined; finally a rotary device (30) accompanies the stacks of articles of predetermined number and urges them one at a time along said track (20) from the point in which they leave the screw device (10) to the final station (50).Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Clevertech S.R.L.Inventor: Giuseppe Reggiani
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Patent number: 6378728Abstract: The operation of selecting one cup delivery section from a plurality of cup delivery sections is performed based on the rotation of a barrel in one direction. On the other hand, the operation of driving the selected one cup delivery section to feed a cup is selectively performed based on the rotation of the barrel in another direction. Thus, a cup feeding apparatus can be provided which can feed various cups without providing a plurality of drive sources and can realize excellent working efficiency of the assembly and the maintenance and inspection without increasing the apparatus cost.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hajime Erikawa