Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100258405 | Ejection system - A conveyer apparatus for transporting and processing tablets includes a conveyer and an ejection system. Each of the tablets includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a belly band that interconnects the first and second sides. The conveyer includes a plurality of carrier links to convey a plurality of tablets along a predetermined conveyer path. Each carrier link has a pocket to receive and transport a tablet in a vertical orientation along the predetermined conveyer path. The ejection system is structured to selectively accept or eject a tablet from the carrier link in response to a signal provided by a sensor positioned upstream of the ejection system. The ejection system includes at least one ejection finger movable between a non-ejection position in which the ejection finger is positioned out of the conveyer path of the carrier link and an ejection position in which the ejection finger is positioned with respect to the carrier link to contact and eject the tablet from the carrier link. At least a portion of the ejection finger defines a width that is smaller than a tablet width of the tablet and larger than a link width of the carrier link. | 10-14-2010 |
20110089001 | Method and apparatus for transporting pellet-shaped articles - A conveyer apparatus for transporting and processing pellet-shaped articles includes a conveyer and a discharge device. The conveyer includes a plurality of carrier bars to convey a plurality of articles along a predetermined conveyer path. Each carrier bar has a pocket half that cooperates with a pocket half of an adjacent carrier bar to form an article receiving pocket to receive and transport an article along the predetermined conveyer path. The discharge device is positioned with respect to the carrier bars to dislodge articles from the carrier bars. | 04-21-2011 |
20110297590 | INSPECTION SYSTEM - An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction. | 12-08-2011 |
20130134072 | INSPECTION SYSTEM - An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction. | 05-30-2013 |
20130277171 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING PELLET-SHAPED ARTICLES - A carrier bar to convey at least one pellet-shaped article along a predetermined conveyer path in a direction of travel, the carrier bar comprises at least one pocket adapted to receive a pellet-shaped article and each pocket having a pocket wall, and a product settling area included in each pocket and having a dimple defined in the product settling area by an edge, said dimple adapted to seat the bottom side of the pellet-shaped article, wherein said dimple is offset from a center of said product settling area and said dimple is shaped to position, hold, or bias a portion of the pellet-shaped article towards and/or against a portion of the pocket wall. | 10-24-2013 |
20140260104 | INSPECTION SYSTEM - An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction. | 09-18-2014 |
20150083548 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING AND PROCESSING PELLET-SHAPED ARTICLES - A conveyer apparatus for inspecting and processing pellet-shaped articles, each of the pellet-shaped articles including a first side and a second side, the conveyer apparatus comprising: a conveyer including a plurality of carrier links to convey a plurality of pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined conveyer path; a first inspection unit including at least one camera to inspect the first side and/or the second side of each of the pellet-shaped articles and determine an orientation of each of the pellet-shaped articles on the conveyer; a processing unit including at least two processing devices, each on an opposite side of the conveyer to process the first side and the second side of each of the pellet-shaped articles; and a second inspection unit including at least one camera on each side of the conveyer to inspect the first side and/or the second side of the pellet-shaped articles after processing. | 03-26-2015 |
20150314334 | INSPECTION SYSTEM - An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction. | 11-05-2015 |
20160107198 | INSPECTION SYSTEM - An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction. | 04-21-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080223935 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR READING MACHINE-READABLE CHARACTERS AND HUMAN-READABLE CHARACTERS - Systems, devices, and methods for automatic data collection. An automatic data collection system includes an image capture subsystem and a processor subsystem. The automatic data collection system is operable to decode machine-readable symbols in a machine-readable symbol reading mode, and to automatically switch from a machine-readable symbol reading mode to an optical character recognition mode in response to information encoded in a machine-readable symbol. In some embodiments, the automatic data collection system is further operable to perform optical character recognition on human-readable symbols in a human-readable symbol reading mode. | 09-18-2008 |
20090272812 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR READING MACHINE-READABLE CHARACTERS AND HUMAN-READABLE CHARACTERS - Systems, devices, and methods for automatic data collection. An automatic data collection system includes an image capture subsystem and a processor subsystem. The automatic data collection system is operable to decode machine-readable symbols in a machine-readable symbol reading mode, and to automatically switch from a machine-readable symbol reading mode to an optical character recognition mode in response to information encoded in a machine-readable symbol. In some embodiments, the automatic data collection system is further operable to perform optical character recognition on human-readable symbols in a human-readable symbol reading mode. | 11-05-2009 |
20100188197 | FINDING SENSOR DATA IN AN RFID NETWORK - A system and method of selectively reading sensor data from a memory device is able to search the memory device for an indicator that identifies the sensor data, and read only the sensor data identified by the indicator from the memory device. In this way, interrogating devices are able to sort through sensor data stored in a network of memory devices, such as an RFID network, and report specific data of interest despite the existence of a variety of data types in the network. In some embodiments, flags are stored and associated with specific types of data, such as various sensor data, thereby allowing numerous memory devices and sensors to operate and be read efficiently in the same environment. | 07-29-2010 |
20100220894 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GEOMETRICAL MEASUREMENT USING AN OPTICAL DEVICE SUCH AS A BARCODE AND/OR RFID SCANNER - A system and method are described for determining the dimensions of items using an optical device, such as a barcode and/or RFID tag reader, for example. The dimensions of the field of view of the optical device are established, indexed by distance, and the dimensions of items in the field of view of the optical device are determined as a percentage of the full field of view of the optical device at the appropriate distance. | 09-02-2010 |
20120006096 | GAS SENSOR USING NANOTUBES - Techniques are generally described for detecting a concentration level of at least one gas. Some example devices may include a sensor including conductive plate on a surface of dielectric including a nanotube layer formed thereon. The conductive plate and the nanotube layer form a resonator that resonates at a frequency in response to an interrogation signal. The nanotube layer may be configured to associate with one or more gas molecules. The frequency at which the resonator resonates may shift according to which gas molecules are associated with the nanotube layer to identify a particular gas. An amount of resonance may be exhibited as a resonant response signal. An amplitude of the resonant response signal may be indicative of the concentration level of the detected gas. | 01-12-2012 |
20140049635 | VOLUME DIMENSIONING SYSTEM CALIBRATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Various corporate, industry, and regulatory guidelines, best practices and standards are used in establishing acceptable levels of accuracy for volume dimensioning systems used in commerce. A volume dimensioning system can determine at least one distortion value that is indicative of an amount of distortion present in the system and responsive to the amount of distortion, autonomously alter or adjust the units of accuracy of information reported by the system. Such alteration or adjustment of units of accuracy may be performed based on an assessment of the distortion relative to a number of distortion thresholds. Responsive to the assessment, the volume dimensioning system can adjust a unit of accuracy in a representation of volume dimensioning related information. | 02-20-2014 |
20140180850 | SECURE MOBILE DEVICE TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods are described for communicating private user information from a mobile device to a transaction terminal or other external device. More specifically, systems and methods are described for improving authentication through the use of mobile devices used to facilitate transactions with external devices. The authentication described herein can be adaptive, thereby providing a flexible level of automatic on-the-spot transaction security. Unlike prior art systems, the mobile device is not required to have network connectivity. Additionally, the systems and methods described herein are easily adapted to most current systems. | 06-26-2014 |
20140354412 | FINDING SENSOR DATA IN AN RFID NETWORK - A system and method of selectively reading sensor data from a memory device is able to search the memory device for an indicator that identifies the sensor data, and read only the sensor data identified by the indicator from the memory device. In this way, interrogating devices are able to sort through sensor data stored in a network of memory devices, such as an RFID network, and report specific data of interest despite the existence of a variety of data types in the network. In some embodiments, flags are stored and associated with specific types of data, such as various sensor data, thereby allowing numerous memory devices and sensors to operate and be read efficiently in the same environment. | 12-04-2014 |
20150310243 | AUTOFOCUS LENS SYSTEM FOR INDICIA READERS - An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance. | 10-29-2015 |
20160109219 | HANDHELD DIMENSIONING SYSTEM WITH MEASUREMENT-CONFORMANCE FEEDBACK - A system and method for obtaining a dimension measurement that conforms to a conformance criteria is disclosed. The dimensioning system provides either (i) feedback to confirm that the measurement complies with the criteria or (ii) information on how the measurement geometry could be adjusted in order to provide a compliant measurement in a subsequent dimension measurement. | 04-21-2016 |
20160112631 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIMENSIONING - A system and method for structured-light dimensioning is disclosed. The method includes combining multiple images using different camera settings to provide all of the information necessary dimensioning. What results is an improved ability to sense a light pattern reflected from an object's surfaces, especially when the lighting and/or object color make imaging all surfaces simultaneously difficult. | 04-21-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090101011 | SILVER-EXCHANGED ZEOLITES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREFOR - The present invention relates generally to zeolites having a silica/alumina ratio of less than or equal to 10 (Si/Al≦10) that are exchanged with Ag | 04-23-2009 |
20100095849 | SILVER-EXCHANGED ZEOLITES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREFOR - The present invention relates generally to zeolites having a silica/alumina ratio of less than or equal to 10 (Si/Al≦10) that are exchanged with Ag | 04-22-2010 |
20110146487 | MODULAR COMPACT ADSORPTION BED - A modular and compact adsorbent bed structure is disclosed for use in an adsorption-based gas separation plant. The conventional adsorbent bed in a gas separation plant is replaced with a plurality of modular adsorbent bed units connected to make the adsorbent bed structure. Modular adsorbent bed units of this invention provide higher capacity of product per unit volume of adsorbent material (i.e., increased adsorbent utilization) as compared to that obtained from conventional adsorbent beds. The modular design requires lower fabrication costs; is easier to transport; has less maintenance and repair requirements; and is easier to load with adsorbent material. | 06-23-2011 |
20110146494 | MODULAR COMPACT ADSORPTION BED - A modular and compact adsorbent bed structure is disclosed for use in an adsorption-based gas separation plant. The conventional adsorbent bed in a gas separation plant is replaced with a plurality of modular adsorbent bed units connected to make the adsorbent bed structure. The modular design requires lower fabrication and maintenance costs; is easier to transport; and is easier to load with adsorbent material. | 06-23-2011 |
20110206573 | RADIAL FLOW REACTOR - A radial flow reactor is disclosed for use in gas purification, separation or reaction processes and most suitably used in prepurification processes. The reactor has two concentric internal baskets which are rigidly supported at both the top and bottom ends of the reactor. The reactor has a removable section in the inner basket to accommodate rotating arms to dense load one or more layers of active materials between the concentric baskets. | 08-25-2011 |
20110206581 | RADIAL FLOW REACTOR WITH MOVABLE SUPPORTS - A radial flow reactor vessel is disclosed for use in gas purification, separation or reaction processes and most suitably used in prepurification processes. The reactor has internal baskets for confining a bed of active material. The baskets are rigidly supported at both the top and bottom ends of the reactor and have walls that are axially flexible and radially rigid. The vessel has multiple movable support columns designed to facilitate pre-stressing of the baskets to offset axial compressive loads induced from thermal cycling. | 08-25-2011 |
20130118348 | MODULAR COMPACT ADSORPTION BED - A modular and compact adsorbent bed structure is disclosed for use in an adsorption-based gas separation plant. The conventional adsorbent bed in a gas separation plant is replaced with a plurality of modular adsorbent bed units connected to make the adsorbent bed structure. The modular design requires lower fabrication and maintenance costs; is easier to transport; and is easier to load with adsorbent material. | 05-16-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130103477 | Transaction Management System and Method - A method of managing some or all financial aspects of a commercial transaction entered into by a vendor and a consumer, and automatically and using a portable, internet enabled telecommunications device by the consumer, effecting payment by the consumer, extending to processing of payments by third parties such as banks, the Federal Reserve system, and the like. The method may include supporting elements such as establishing or accessing credit, issuing payment reminders, applying discounts, maintaining and transmitting transaction and account information, issuing coupons and gift cards, managing installment purchases, and transmitting postings pertaining to commercial transactions to social networking sites. All necessary inputs from the consumer may be of the type entered into the portable telecommunications device. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103576 | TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for managing a transaction includes receiving merchant information. Then a merchant account may be established with the merchant information. Consumer information may also be received whereby a consumer account may be established. The consumer and merchant may then be associated. Payment instructions may be received and the merchant account may be credited in the amount from the payment instructions. | 04-25-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130341249 | Identification of Plastic Material Composition - Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a color additive that is embedded or otherwise not visible. The color additive identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is deformed such that the embedded color additive is made visible in the optical spectrum, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling. | 12-26-2013 |
20130341253 | Identification of Material Composition - Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a sequential pattern applied to one or more surfaces of the body. The sequential pattern identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is analyzed, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling. | 12-26-2013 |
20130344297 | Identification of Material Composition - Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a sequential pattern applied to one or more surfaces of the body. The sequential pattern identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is analyzed, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling. | 12-26-2013 |
20130345856 | Identification of Plastic Material Composition - Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a color additive that is embedded or otherwise not visible. The color additive identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is deformed such that the embedded color additive is made visible in the optical spectrum, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling. | 12-26-2013 |
20150148941 | Identification of Plastic Material Composition - Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a color additive that is embedded or otherwise not visible. The color additive identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is deformed such that the embedded color additive is made visible in the optical spectrum, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling. | 05-28-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20160082621 | INSULATED CONTAINER AND METHODS OF MAKING AND ASSEMBLING - A process for forming a multi-layer sheet for forming an expanded foam container, the process comprising: extruding a first layer comprising a first polyolefin-based material comprising at least one polypropylene-based polymer and at least one blowing agent; providing a second layer comprising a second polyolefin-based material comprising at least one polypropylene-based polymer onto a first side of the first layer; and expanding the first layer to form the multi-layer sheet comprising an expanded first layer and an unexpanded second layer. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082692 | INSULATED CONTAINER AND METHODS OF MAKING AND ASSEMBLING - A multi-layer sheet for forming an expanded foam container, the multi-layer sheet comprising a first layer of an expanded foam material comprising a first polyolefin-based material comprising at least one polypropylene-based polymer and a second layer of an unexpanded material comprising a second polyolefin-based material comprising at least one polypropylene-based polymer that is co-extruded, extrusion coated, or laminated on a first side of the first layer. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082693 | INSULATED CONTAINER AND METHODS OF MAKING AND ASSEMBLING - A multi-layer sheet for forming an expanded foam container, the multi-layer sheet comprising a first layer of an expanded foam material comprising a first polyolefin-based material comprising at least one polypropylene-based polymer and a second layer of an unexpanded material comprising a second polyolefin-based material comprising at least one polypropylene-based polymer that is co-extruded, extrusion coated, or laminated on a first side of the first layer, wherein an exterior surface of the second layer has a low gloss level. | 03-24-2016 |