Of Feed Of Material Patents (Class 241/34)
  • Patent number: 11883827
    Abstract: A material reduction machine includes a prime mover driving a cutting mechanism. An infeed portion engages a piece of material to feed it forward to the cutting mechanism. A sensor senses a machine load parameter via the cutting mechanism and/or prime mover and reports a signal to a controller operatively coupled to the infeed portion to control sequential cutting cycles on the piece of material. The controller utilizes a stored first stop threshold value for stopping a first cutting cycle and continues monitoring the signal as machine load increases momentarily after reaching the first stop threshold. The controller determines and adopts a second stop threshold value based on observation of the machine load parameter indicative of maximum load during the continued monitoring following attainment of the first stop threshold, and further being based on a stored correction factor. The second stop threshold value is used for a second cutting cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Daniel James Soldan, John David Vande Noord
  • Patent number: 11802095
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a composting device including a housing defining an interior with an access opening providing access to the interior, a composter bin located within the interior and in communication with the access opening, and a door mounted to the housing and electrically powered to automatically slide along a sliding path between opened and closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Abhishek P. Buzruk
  • Patent number: 11782029
    Abstract: A device and a system monitor wear of wearable components mounted in a mining equipment. An elongated bolt maintains a wearable component in place on a face of the equipment. A threaded section of the bolt terminates at a proximal end protruding externally through a hole of the equipment. A shank of the bolt terminates at a distal end opposite from the proximal end. The shank extends along a thickness of the wearable component and wears as the wearable component wears when the equipment is in operation. A transducer coupled to the proximal end of the bolt generates a sound wave within the bolt, detects an echo of the sound wave reflected by the distal end of the bolt, and reports to a controller a time delay between the sound wave and the echo. The controller evaluates a wear of the wearable component based on the time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Viwek Vaidya
  • Patent number: 11684928
    Abstract: An automatic shredder having an upper shredder cover, a lower shredder cover, a first paper box, a second paper box, a shredder cover plate, a paper pressing plate, a paper pressing roller set, a paper pick-up roller set, a paper inlet, a cutter shaft set, a drive motor, a shell and a waste paper barrel. The automatic shredder adopts a bent paper box to change the length of to-be-shredded paper by means of the flexibility and bendability of paper and the features of paper pick-up rollers on one side, is extremely simple and economical, and changes the flat paper placement structure of existing automatic shredders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Aurora Office Equipment Co., Ltd. Shanghai
    Inventors: Er Ren Zhong, Tao Kuei Chuang, Guanglong Chen
  • Patent number: 11648567
    Abstract: Automatic paper shredder having a paper pressing mechanism, which includes upper shredder cover, lower shredder cover, paper support box, paper pressing plate, cover plate, spindle and two spindle holders. Upper cover is connected to lower cover. Paper support box is above the lower cover forming a cavity for to-be-shredded paper. Fixed ends of paper pressing plate and cover plate are around the spindle, so free ends of paper pressing plate and cover plate can rotate coaxially. Two ends of spindle are respectively disposed in two spindle holders, so spindle can rotate. Two spindle holders are connected to upper cover to connect cover plate and paper pressing plate to upper cover. Paper pressing plate is disposed below cover plate and for pressing to-be-shredded paper placed on paper support box when a user closes cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Aurora Office Equipment Co., Ltd. Shanghai
    Inventors: Guanglong Chen, Yung Kang Tso
  • Patent number: 11592822
    Abstract: One or more information maps are obtained by an agricultural work machine. The one or more information maps map one or more agricultural characteristic values at different geographic locations of a field. An in-situ sensor on the agricultural work machine senses an agricultural characteristic as the agricultural work machine moves through the field. A predictive map generator generates a predictive map that predicts a predictive agricultural characteristic at different locations in the field based on a relationship between the values in the one or more information maps and the agricultural characteristic sensed by the in-situ sensor. The predictive map can be output and used in automated machine control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nathan R Vandike, Bhanu Kiran Reddy Palla, Corwin M. Puryk
  • Patent number: 11497353
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described to grind a product, for example a product in grain form, which provide to compare a value of estimated weight (pk*) with a predefined quantity (pTARGET) that has to be delivered in a delivery cycle, and that has been set by the user. The value of estimated weight (pk*) is calculated by adding a weight (pk) detected at successive instants (tk) of the delivery cycle with a suitable correction factor (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: GIRARDI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Adrian Stefan Chirciu
  • Patent number: 11490766
    Abstract: Coffee grinder-doser including a grinder-doser body, a containment compartment which contains an electric motor and at least a coffee grinder operatively connected to the electric motor, configured to grind coffee beans into grounds, a conveyor of the ground coffee, a support for a container suitable to receive the ground coffee from an output of the conveyor, the support being mechanically connected to a weighing device by pulley means, the weighing device being placed inside hollow body, where the pulley means has a block which discharges the weight from the support to the weighing device, the block crossing a front opening of the hollow body, and where the grinder-doser includes means of protecting the ground coffee joined to the block in order to divert and/or increase the path of the ground coffee to enter the hollow body through the front opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MAZZER LUIGI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Mazzer
  • Patent number: 11406217
    Abstract: The techniques described herein provide a globally networked on-demand coffee blending and brewing system. In particular, the system herein can hold coffee beans of distinctly different origins and taste profiles in sealed environmentally controlled “smart hoppers”, and can dynamically grind and blend any combination of available beans based on “flavor profiling” to create a user's desired cup of coffee. Additionally, the network connectivity of the system herein provides advanced collaboration within the coffee community, such as for sharing coffee blends, providing feedback to all levels of the supply chain, and indicating fair trade authenticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Gerald S. Fain
  • Patent number: 11383246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the charging of a crusher, driven by a crusher drive via transmission elements, of a material comminution system, wherein material which is to be crushed is fed to the crusher, a filling level of the crusher is determined using a filling level sensor, and the volume flow of material to be crushed is set and/or regulated according to the filling level determined. The mechanical loading of the crusher or a characteristic variable which is dependent on the mechanical loading of the crusher is determined directly or indirectly, and the filling level of the crusher is set according to the mechanical loading determined, or the characteristic variable which is dependent thereon. The method permits low-wear operation of the material comminution system and of the crusher with, at the same time, a high material throughput rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Thorsten Eckert, Tobias Freihalter, Jochen Meier
  • Patent number: 11280748
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a conveyor apparatus configured for conveying a material and a water content measurement system positioned about the conveyor apparatus for determining water content in the material. A dimension characteristic measurement system for detecting one or more dimension characteristics of the material is provided and a computer device is configured to manipulate data received from the water content measurement system and the dimension characteristic measurement system to determine a water content of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc
    Inventors: Wewage Hiran Linus Dep, Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Patent number: 11243710
    Abstract: A self-destructive storage system and method is disclosed. The system includes a digital storage, and a destruction mechanism located proximate the digital storage and configured to physically render the digital storage unreadable upon activation. The system also includes a controller having a processor and a memory. The controller is communicatively coupled to the destruction mechanism and is configured to activate the destruction mechanism in response to at least one of the receipt of a destroy command and the satisfaction of a predefined condition. The system also includes a wireless network interface that is communicatively coupled to the controller and a wireless network. The digital storage device, the controller, and the destruction mechanism are coupled to a drive enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Dominic B. Picone
  • Patent number: 11185867
    Abstract: A distribution metering device (I) for a roller mill which includes a housing (2) with at least one grinding stock inlet (3), at least one grinding stock outlet (4), and a feed roll (5) which is arranged in the housing (2) for metering grinding stock into a grinding gap of the roller mill through the grinding stock outlet (4). The feed roll is rotatable about a feed roll axis (SA). A conveyor shaft (6) is arranged in the housing (2) for distributing grinding stock along the feed roll (5). The conveyor shaft is rotatable about a conveyor shaft axis (FA). The conveyor shaft axis (FA) is substantially parallel to the feed roll axis (SA), and a first fill state sensor (7) is arranged in the housing (2) for ascertaining a first grinding stock fill state of the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: BÜHLER AG
    Inventors: Daniel Mark, Daniel Rickenbach, Stefan Salzmann
  • Patent number: 11160419
    Abstract: Grinders, analyzers, and related technologies are described herein. The grinders can hold foodstuff that is periodically ground. The analyzers can analyze the foodstuff to determine information about the state of the foodstuff. Algorithms can be used to determine how to process the foodstuff, how to use the foodstuff, and/or when to discard the foodstuff. The grinder can be a portable, rechargeable electric coffee grinder configured to monitor the freshness of the coffee beans. When coffee beans become stale, they can be discarded and the coffee grinder can be refilled with fresh coffee beans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sorry Robots LLC
    Inventors: Samantha Rose, Scott Heimendinger, Tasche Streib, John Laz, Michael Egan, Christian Lester, Brian Rose
  • Patent number: 11109713
    Abstract: A food preparation appliance includes a food preparation pot, a rotatable tool for chopping food in the food preparation pot and a sensor, in particular for weight determination of a food in the food preparation pot. A control unit is provided and configured such that, when a food is comminuted by the tool, the control unit is able to determine, based on a sensor signal from the sensor, whether a predetermined chopping state of the food has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Frielinghaus
  • Patent number: 11103877
    Abstract: A control method of a treatment plant for elements to be recycled or disposed of, having a crushing roll to reduce the size of the elements to be recycled or disposed of, and a screen operatively arranged upstream of the crushing roll to enable passage therethrough only of elements having a size larger than a predetermined size, includes the steps of measuring the current absorbed by the crushing roll; comparing the measured current value to a first predetermined value; and reducing the vibrations of the screen, if the measured current exceeds the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Marco Venturi, Mauro Biavati
  • Patent number: 11079109
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for controlling the feed of a solid fuel in a combustion process. The system includes a control unit which is adapted to communicate by way of a communications link in the system, to receive from online measuring instruments online measurement data regarding a fuel coming from a fuel reception unit, and to control a feeding unit for delivering the measured fuel into a fuel silo on the basis of its content model and measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: INRAY OY
    Inventors: Mika Muinonen, Janne Kovanen
  • Patent number: 11071986
    Abstract: An infeed system of a chipper or grinder includes a feed roller, a motor for rotating the roller, a hydraulic cylinder for adjusting an amount of crush force applied by the roller, a sensor, and a controller in data communication with the sensor and the cylinder. In operation, the controller determines whether the material is being effectively moved to the processing portion and whether the amount of crush force is at a maximum or lowest setting. The controller causes the cylinder to: (a) decrease the amount of crush force when the material is being effectively moved to the processing portion and the amount of crush force applied is not at the lowest setting; and (b) increase the amount of crush force when the material is not being effectively moved to the processing portion and the amount of crush force is not at the maximum setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Aaron Green, Benjamin Helland, Joshua Magill
  • Patent number: 10894937
    Abstract: The embodiments disclose a method including processing ingredients including carbon, essential vitamins, essential minerals, trace minerals, fulvic acid, and humic acid for preparation of black shot products, blending the ingredients processed into powders into powder based products, concentrating the ingredients processed into a liquid blend to create concentrated syrup products, blending the ingredients into a fresh fruit flavored smoothie, and blending the ingredients into a black shot beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventors: Louise Wilkie, Jacqueline Wilkie
  • Patent number: 10875030
    Abstract: A thermoplastic pelletizer providing enhanced pellet yields with reduced fines contamination. The pelletizer includes a cutting rotor and a feed assembly for feeding plastic to the cutting rotor. The pelletizer further includes two chutes—a first chute arranged to collect pellets, and a second chute arranged to collect fines. A vacuum is drawn on both chutes to assist in the collection of both pellets and fines in their respective chutes. Compressed air is directed past the cutting rotor to the first chute to assist in moving pellets from the cutting rotor to the first chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: BAY PLASTICS MACHINERY COMPANY LLC
    Inventor: Richard H. Fetter
  • Patent number: 10792666
    Abstract: A mulching and chipping attachment includes a deck having a top plate. A cutting disk is attached to the deck. The top plate includes an opening that exposes a portion of the cutting disk. A guide chute is attached to the deck, and is disposed over the opening. The guide chute includes a feed system. The feed system includes a first roller, and a reactionary member operable to react against the first roller to secure a log therebetween. The first roller and the reactionary member cooperate together to grasp and controllably feed the log through the opening. The first roller or the reactionary member may be moveable relative to the other, to adjust a throat distance therebetween. An anvil may be disposed at a rearward edge of the opening, and extend downward to define a chip cutting height between the anvil and the cutting disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ryan's Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Ryan, John Amland
  • Patent number: 10773260
    Abstract: A waste processing machine for reducing waste material and having a safety device for shearing lines. A housing defines a cutting chamber and an intake opening in communication with the cutting chamber for receiving waste material. A disc is disposed in the cutting chamber, rotates about an axis, and has an axial surface facing the intake opening. A cutting member is fixed to the disc for revolution about the axis concurrent with rotation of the disc for reducing waste material. A cutting anvil is coupled to the housing adjacent to the intake opening and faces the axial surface of the disc for reducing waste material between the cutting anvil and the cutting member. A line shear element is attached to the housing, extends into the cutting chamber toward the axial surface of the disc, and is spaced from the cutting anvil for shearing lines caught by the rotating disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Bandit Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Ryan Walcutt
  • Patent number: 10758913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a lifter bar (1a, 1c) for use in a grinding mill (2), to a refurbished lifter bar (1b) and to a mould (3) for producing the refurbished lifter bar (1c). The lifter bar (1a, 1c) has a predetermined form and comprises a base member. The method comprises the steps of providing a mould (3) having an interior space (4a) that conforms at least partially to the predetermined form; joining the mould (3) and the base member together to form a cavity (4b) defined by the base member and the interior space (4a); and filling the cavity (4b) with polymer and allowing the polymer to attach to the base member to construct a lifter bar (1a) having the predetermined form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Kari Lauermaa
  • Patent number: 10399089
    Abstract: A system to control in real time a charge volume of an autogenous mill or a semi-autogenous mill including at least one accelerometer connected to a rotatable mill shell producing acceleration over time signals. The system includes a wireless antenna, a signal receiver module, and a modular magnetic power generator unit communicating with a master control processor connected to a network and to a distributed control system of the mill. The system has computer instructions to receive the acceleration over time signals and compare the acceleration over time signals to preset charge limits and produce commands to the distributed control system to automatically alter at least one of: speed of the rotatable mill shell, a particulate feed rate, a water feed rate, and combinations thereof when compared acceleration over time signals exceed or fall below preset charge limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventors: Sheldon Dean Shumway, Sergei Kuznetsov
  • Patent number: 9978232
    Abstract: A power strip for use in an anti-theft security system and an anti-theft security system for electrical appliances includes a socket-outlet for receiving a power plug that is electrically connected to a power cord for an electrical appliance. The power strip comprises an electronic circuit configured to measure a first electrical characteristic of the power cord and/or the electrical appliance when the power plug is inserted into the socket-outlet and to measure a second electrical characteristic of the power cord and/or the electrical appliance while the power plug is inserted. A change between the first measurement result and the second measurement results in triggering an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo Hendrik Marie Weusten, Rogier Christian Van Baar
  • Patent number: 9884323
    Abstract: An auto-feed paper shredder operates by using counter-rotating belts to grasp sheets of paper from the bottom of a stack of paper and push the sheet into a shredding mechanism. Successive sheets are pulled from the stack and shredded so that an entire stack of several hundred sheets can be shredded without operator intervention. The belts that accomplish the auto-feeding are housed in roller belt assemblies that can be easily removed from and reinserted into the paper shredder. In this way when the belts become worn and no longer effectively grasp the paper, the user simply removes the assembly and inserts a new one. The worn assemblies can be returned to the manufacturer to be refurbished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Intek America, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman Chang
  • Patent number: 9738202
    Abstract: A system for regulating a dump rate of a truck is disclosed. The truck is configured to carry material and dump the material in a container. The system includes a first detection module and a controller in communication with the first detection module. The first detection module generates a signal indicative of a draw down rate of the container. The draw down rate corresponds to a rate at which the material is discharged from the container. The controller determines the draw down rate of the contained based on the signal received from the first detection module. The controller further determines a level of the material within the container based on the draw down rate. The controller then regulates the dump rate of the truck based on a relationship between the level of the material within the container and a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Humphrey, Mark H. Banham
  • Patent number: 9608552
    Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing a parameter used in a frequency converter connected to an electrical rotating machine. The method includes identifying a parameter of the machine using electrical quantities, the identified parameter being used in the frequency converter and being identified in a first operating point, providing an electro-mechanical model of the rotating electrical machine to the frequency converter, and calculating when a processor capacity of the frequency converter is available, (i) a state of the rotating electrical machine in the first operating point using a finite element method with the electro-mechanical model of the rotating electrical machine, (ii) a state of the rotating electrical machine in a selected operating point using the finite element method with the electro-mechanical model, correcting the calculated state of the rotating electrical machine, and calculating, from the corrected state, parameter(s) of the electrical machine to be used in the frequency converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology OY
    Inventor: Matti Mustonen
  • Patent number: 9592973
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking portion, a lifting portion, a feeding portion, and a control portion. The sheet feeding apparatus further includes a first height detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to a position in a height direction of the topmost sheet of sheets stacked on the stacking portion, a sheet presence detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to presence or absence of the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, and a second height detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to a position in a height direction of the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kushida, Tomohito Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9510710
    Abstract: A food grinder (10) makes a sound or vibrates with a frequency that changes between a first mode when the grinding mechanism (22, 24, 36) is performing a grinding operation while there is bulk food ingredient within the grinding chamber, and a second mode when the grinding mechanism (22, 24, 36) is performing a grinding operation while there is no bulk food ingredient within the grinding chamber, has a detector (44) for sensing the change in frequency and a controller (42) responsive to the detector (44) for controlling the application of electrical power to the grinding mechanism (22, 24 36). Power is first applied when a start grind switch is manually actuated and is later automatically removed in response to a timer (54) a preselected time period after the detector senses that the grinding chamber is empty of bulk food ingredient to be ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Food Equipment Technologies Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrzej Kaminski, Zbigniew G. Lassota
  • Patent number: 9398744
    Abstract: A drive system (1) for a harvesting machine has a drive train (4) connected by a coupling device (5) with a drive motor (6). The drive train (4) has a hydrostatic transmission (10) with a variable displacement pump (11) and a hydraulic motor (12) connected in a closed circuit to the pump (11). The hydraulic motor (12) is connected to a feeder device (2). For quickly stopping the feeder device (2), the pump (11) is set to a displacement of zero by an electronic control system (15) and the feeder device (2) is braked by a pressure protection device (40). For a chopper device (3), the hydraulic motor (12) is cut off by the electronic control system (15). The drive train (4) is isolated from the drive motor (6) by uncoupling the coupling device (5) and the pump (11) is set to the maximum displacement volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Linde Hydraulics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Richter, Thomas Loeffler, Bernward Welschof
  • Patent number: 9321054
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for receiving characteristic data of a mill including a rotating mill sleeve having rotor coils and a stator having stator coils, wherein oscillations of the mill sleeve are transmitted to stator coils and/or measurement coils on the stator. The assembly may include stator coil(s) configured to tap power supply induction voltages to detect oscillations of the mill sleeve, wherein the stator coil(s) and/or measurement coil(s) designed to tap induction voltages are positioned in a sector of the mill sleeve in which large oscillations are expected based on the scale of the mill sleeve. Further, a method includes determining the induction voltage induced on stator coil(s) and/or measurement coil(s) by tapping at least one stator coil power supply and/or by tapping at least one measurement coil, and deriving status variable(s) of a milling method that reflect the fill level status in the sector of the respective coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Harald Held, Michael Metzger, Florian Steinke
  • Patent number: 9221061
    Abstract: Eddy current separation apparatus for separating particles from a particle stream. The eddy current separation apparatus comprises a separator drum adapted to create a first particle fraction and a second particle fraction, a feeding device upstream of the separator drum for supplying particles to the separator drum, and a splitter element provided downstream of the separator drum for splitting the respective fractions. The eddy current separation apparatus further comprises a sensor device arranged for detecting particles, and counting and/or detecting material properties of the detected particles, from at least part of one of the particle fractions. The eddy current separation apparatus is configured to adjust, in use, a position and/or orientation of the splitter element with respect to the separator drum and/or a transporting velocity of the feeding device in dependence of a signal from the sensor device based on a counted number and/or material properties of the detected particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Inashco R&D B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Carlo Rem, Martinus Cornelis Maria Bakker, Simon Peter Maria Berkhout, Mohammed Abdur Rahman
  • Patent number: 9194120
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for treating waste material comprising: —Collecting release coated cellulose or polymeric sheets from producers and end-users thereof in the form of dense, bulky masses, such as rolls and stacks; —Pre-shredding the dense, bulky masses of release coated sheets into smaller, less dense masses in preparation to the following process steps; —Preparing the pre-shredded material by mixing, separating foreign bodies like metals, etc., and feeding it to a primary grinding station (3); —Grinding the materials into small pieces, of the desired size, preferably down to less than 1 mm; —Adding additives selected from flame retardant, hydrophobic material, pesticide and mixtures thereof and mixing them with the recycled material; —Optionally forming a batt or a sheet by a wet process and/or by adding a binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: RECULINER BVBA
    Inventors: Eric Van Pottelbergh, Bart Verhasselt
  • Patent number: 9125518
    Abstract: An apparatus (30) for conditioning a food substance, such as milk or a milk-containing substance, comprises: —a food conditioning module (31) that has a structure (32) for holding such food substance and that has an electric device (35) comprising a conditioner (36) for imparting a conditioning effect to such food substance and a conditioner control unit (37) for controlling the conditioner; and —a user-interface device (40) in data-communication with the conditioner control unit to transmit user-data from the user-interface device to the control unit for controlling the conditioner accordingly. The user-interface device (40) is external to the food conditioning module (31) and disconnectably connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Guido Piai, Christian Probst, Antoine Cahen, Eric Granger
  • Patent number: 9033266
    Abstract: A self-contained automatic access port unit having a sensor that recognizes when refuse is approaching the cover, and to activate a direct current motor, solenoid, or drive cylinder which in turn moves a drive arm to open a cover to permit refuse to drop through the access port unit into a trash container therebelow, thereby avoiding the need for a user to make contact with the trash access port. A switch or timer causes the access port unit to close its cover. Motion of the drive arm is initiated by the motor, solenoid or drive cylinder, but continues through momentum imparted to the drive arm and cover. The cover engages a seal ring to provide a uniform impervious countertop surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Greg Nance
  • Publication number: 20150129691
    Abstract: A lottery ticket destruction apparatus includes a housing of flip-turn design convenient to open for maintenance, a motor mounted in the housing, a transmission gear set mounted on the outside of the housing and coupled to the motor, a set of sheet-transfer rollers rotatable by the transmission gear set at a low speed to flatten inserted lottery tickets, a set of rotary cutters disposed below the set of sheet-transfer rollers and rotatable by the transmission gear set at a middle speed to cut an inserted series of lottery tickets into three narrow elongated pieces, and a set of pull-and-push rollers disposed below the set of rotary cutters and rotatable by the transmission gear set at a high speed to stretch the cut pieces of the series of lottery tickets into fragments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: SAINT-FUN INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Jenq-Huey Shyu, Wei-Liang Liao
  • Patent number: 9011955
    Abstract: A system for preparing a coffee beverage, provided with a coffee making apparatus comprising a grinder for grinding coffee beans to obtain ground coffee, a coffee beverage preparation device arranged for, with supply of water to the ground coffee, preparing the coffee beverage, and a coffee outlet for dispensing the coffee beverage, a separate coffee bean package with an inner space which at least before use is filled with the coffee beans, wherein the coffee bean package before use is closed off in itself such that the exposure of the coffee beans to ambient air is prevented, a coffee bean inlet for supply of coffee beans from the coffee bean package to the grinder, and a connecting device for connecting the coffee bean package to the coffee making apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Gerbrand Kristiaan de Graaff, Gustaaf Frans Brouwer, Philippe Jacques van Camp, Ivo van Os
  • Patent number: 8998119
    Abstract: A paper shredder with an allowable thickness warning function is provided. The paper shredder includes a casing and an upper cover. An input tray is disposed on the casing for placing plural papers thereon. A pressing member and a thickness detecting device are installed on the upper cover. When the pressing member is contacted with the plural papers on the input tray and pushed by the plural papers, the pressing member is moved. The thickness detecting device is located near the pressing member. Moreover, in response to the movement of the pressing member, the thickness detecting device may be triggered. If an overall thickness of the plural papers exceeds an allowable thickness, the pressing member is pushed by the plural papers. Consequently, the thickness detecting device is triggered by the pressing member to generate a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Jian-Hua Zhan
  • Publication number: 20150090818
    Abstract: A shredder has cutter elements for destroying articles (paper) and a feed mechanism for advancing paper from a stack in a tray into cutters for shredding. The feed mechanism has a feed member provided adjacent to the tray with an elastic arm for engaging and disengaging the stack. The feed member rotates in a feeding direction about an axle, with the elastic arm elastically deforming to apply pressure to feed paper atop the stack to the cutters. The elastic arm can include a protruding tip that is inserted into the stack. The tray includes a curved feed bed to assist in feeding paper into the cutters and deforming the elastic arm. A pivot arm can also move the feed member relative to the tray (e.g., vertically). A disengagement mechanism can hold the feed mechanism in an inoperable feeding position when a drawer or tray is moved into an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: FELLOWES, INC.
    Inventors: Tai Hoon K. MATLIN, Dipan Pravin SURATI, Dennis William GRUBER
  • Publication number: 20150083836
    Abstract: A shredder includes a shredding mechanism and a vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations generated by the shredding mechanism. The shredder includes a controller configured to regulate operation of the shredder's motor in response to the detected vibrations. The controller may regulate operation of the shredder so as to keep the detected vibrations below a predetermined vibration level during operation of the shredder. The controller may modify operation of the shredder (e.g., turn the shredder off, conduct an autocorrect sequence, increase or decrease the shredder's speed, display an error message) in response to the detected vibrations having a predetermined characteristic (e.g., frequency and/or amplitude within a predetermined range, a characteristic that indicates a material/paper jam or misfeed).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Dale Jensen, Dennis William Gruber, Daniel Namie, Dipen Surati
  • Publication number: 20150083830
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for the micronisation of a powdered material (P) containing particles, comprising: a container (11), containing a reserve of the powdered product (P) to be micronised; a high-energy gaseous spiral fluid-jet micronising mill (12) with which powdered product (P) is micronised; and a feed system (13) to feed powdered product (P) from container (11) to the spiral jet mill (12), wherein feed system (13) comprises a special microdispenser device (20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29) that micrometrically dispenses and directly feeds the powdered material (P), in a dense state, to the spiral jet mill (12), and wherein said microdispenser device (20) comprises one or more dispensing sections (21) which are cyclically filled with material originating from container (11) and then emptied to feed the material to the spiral jet mill (12), opening and closing at high frequency a plurality of control valves (26, 27, 28 and 29) associated with the dispensing sections (21) of the microdispenser device (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Milko Leone, Simone Frattini, Matteo Gamberoni
  • Patent number: 8967508
    Abstract: The present invention may be used to process various foods by pressing them through a receiving receptacle equipped with a processing disk. A body may have a plurality of platforms, frames and support configurations conducive for efficient function. A motor may be in the uppermost section of the body. A switch of choice may activate the motor and set in motion the press process. A ball bearing assembly and press assembly may complete the food press processing function. A receiving receptacle may receive produce for processing by the press plate and push produce through a processing disk, cup or sieve. A set of micro switches may serve to control the electric and mechanical function specific to the task. A press plate with configurations compatible to the disk selected may complete the process when the processed produce is dispensed into a dish or appropriate container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Robert Lyle Kindelan
  • Patent number: 8960577
    Abstract: A method of crushing material between a first crushing surface and a second crushing surface of a crusher, including the steps of measuring a crushing parameter, and analyzing, based on the measured crushing parameter, which type of material that is being crushed in the crusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventors: Bengt Olof Tjell, Christian Ottergren
  • Patent number: 8905338
    Abstract: A crushing machine including a crushing means, a feed conveyor for feeding material to the crushing means, a detector for detecting metal in the material on the feed conveyor, and a bypass chute for the crushing means, the feed conveyor being movable between a normal operating position in which the material is fed to the crushing means and a bypass position in which the material is fed to the bypass chute, the arrangement being such that on detection of metal in the material, the feed conveyor is stopped and moved from the normal operating position to the bypass position so that the material with the metal is discharged into the bypass chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Terex GB Limited
    Inventors: Karl Robinson, Jonathan Nevin, Anthony Devlin
  • Publication number: 20140326813
    Abstract: A chopping-grinding mill for used objects and other waste materials includes a base, on which a disc-shaped vertical-axis rotor (2) is rotatably mounted, the rotor (2) having a plurality of cutting blades (5, 6) fixed to its upper surface. A disc-shaped coaxial stator (3) is associated with the rotor (2) and carries a plurality of cutting blades (II, 12) fixed to its lower surface. The stator (3) is fixed at an adjustable distance above the rotor (2), which together define a grinding chamber. Primary cutting blades (5, II) extend from the centre to the periphery of the rotor (2) and stator (3) and secondary cutting blades (6, 12) extend only in correspondence of a peripheral crown of the rotor (2) and of the stator (3), while a feeding window (10) of the material to be ground is provided in the stator (3), in the area inside to the peripheral crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: MOLINARI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giovanni Lorenzo Gervasoni
  • Publication number: 20140306041
    Abstract: A cone crusher includes a crushing chamber formed between inner and outer crushing shells, a drive shaft that gyrates the crushing head to crush material in the crushing chamber, and a feeding hopper for feeding material to the crushing chamber. A measurement device measures an amount of material present in the feeding hopper. A control system controls, based on the measured amount of material present in the feeding hopper, at least one crusher operating parameter which is chosen from i) an rpm of the drive shaft, and ii) a width of a discharge opening formed between the inner crushing shell and the outer crushing shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB
    Inventor: Konstantin Belotserkovskiy
  • Publication number: 20140291426
    Abstract: An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a bottom shelf configured to support a blender cup. The bottom shelf has a blender drive to drive the operation of blades provided in the blender cup. The dispenser further includes a dispensing chamber including a cartridge receptacle configured to receive a frozen beverage cartridge, and a dispense plunger. The dispenser further includes a water reservoir having a water pump to drive the movement of water from the water reservoir to the dispense plunger of the dispensing chamber and into the blender cup. A controller coupled to the blender drive, the dispenser plunger, and the water pump controls the operation of the individual frozen drink dispenser. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing frozen drinks are further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: J. Michael HERBERT
  • Publication number: 20140263777
    Abstract: An industrial machine that includes a breaker motor having a rotational speed, a breaker shaft, a sensor, and a controller. The breaker shaft is mechanically coupled to an output of the breaker motor, and the breaker shaft includes a plurality of tools operable to crush a material. The sensor is configured to generate a signal related to a parameter of the breaker motor. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine a value for the parameter of the breaker motor based on the received signal, compare the value for the parameter of the breaker motor to a threshold value, and generate a control signal for modifying the rotational speed of the breaker motor based on the comparison of the value for the parameter of the breaker motor to the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: JOY MM DELAWARE, INC.
    Inventor: Charles M. Anderson, JR.
  • Patent number: RE48465
    Abstract: Processing food items in a blender by operating the cutter assembly at a predetermined operating speed, reducing the operating speed of the cutter assembly t, and accelerating the operating speed of the cutter assembly in response to the items in the container having settled around the cutter assembly until the food items are suspended above the cutter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Mally