Bizarre Patents
Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7261201 | Chain-driving mechanism and conveyor apparatus A chain-driving mechanism and a conveyor apparatus of the present invention include a plurality of rollers (20) arranged to convey to-be-conveyed objects, a driving mechanism that drives the rollers (20) in conjunction with each other, and a motor (... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7243002 | System and method for carrier identification in a pneumatic tube system A system and method provides for the identification and monitoring of carriers within a pneumatic carrier system. Each carrier which is to be employed within the system includes an identification device such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip which has ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7232029 | Cantilevered conveying belt for a sortation system A conveyor system having a primary conveyor and a cantilevered conveying belt. In the preferred embodiment, the cantilevered conveying belt includes a cantilevered frame having at least one conveyor belt and a belt tension assembly attached to the cantilevered frame... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7222472 | Method of checking wrapping material in a packaging machine Wrapping material utilized by a packaging machine is advanced along a set feed path through a station where an accessory material, typically adhesive, is applied in spots to selected areas of the surface, whereupon the material is charged electrostatically at a firs... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7134541 | Conveyance apparatus for processing step A conveyance truck movable along travel rails includes a suspended supporting device for supporting a vehicle body, a raising and lowering device for raising and lowering the suspended supporting device, and a posture adjusting device for adjusting the posture of th... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7086518 | Method of supplying workpieces to workstations using an autoloader A method of controlling an autoloader that supplies workpieces to a plurality of workstations. Each of the workstations is operable to generate and transmit a call signal, a ready signal and an error signal. In accordance with the method, the autoloader supplies wor... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7069201 | Apparatus for use in an industrial process and plant including such apparatuses as well as method for simulating operation of such a plant Memorized in an apparatus (10, 12, 14) for use in an industrial process, connectable to a central control unit (18) via a bus (16) for communicating data and control signals, is a software apparatus model (20, 22, 24) which contains a com... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7062893 | System and method for accommodating atypical customer requirements in a mass customization A build cell is utilized to manufacture computers and load data into the computers according to customer orders. The build cell may include a build station at which components are assembled into a computer and a first network connection that links the computer with ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7059464 | Manufacturing system A manufacturing system that includes a plurality of worktables detachably combined with each other, each of the worktables further includes a mainframe, a transport part provided in an upper part of the mainframe and transporting a product, and a control part provid... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7054704 | Method, system and facility for controlling resource allocation within a manufacturing environment A method and system provide for the control of resource allocation within a build-to-order manufacturing environment. One example embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure includes an operation for monitoring a work-in-process (WIP) profile that rep... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7028831 | Magnetic specimen-transport system for automated clinical instrument A magnetic specimen-transport system for transporting racks of specimen-containers to or within an automated clinical instrument for analysis and/or processing. The magnetic specimen-transport system that is adapted to transport magnetically-attractable racks of spe... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7004302 | Turntable A turntable for the treatment of container for fillable goods with receiving places (1) for the container and with at least one treatment unit for the container received in the receiving places (1). In such a generic turntable the arrangement of severa... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6996454 | Method and control system for controlling a conveyor system and a plant for baling paper pulp Methods are disclosed for controlling conveyor systems including providing status information for each of a plurality of conveyors, providing control information for each of the conveyors based solely upon the status information from that conveyor and from adjacent ... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6971217 | Method and device for controlling a wrapping machine for printed products A method for controlling a wrapping machine for printed products that includes determining the size of an incoming gap in a printed product stream and controlling a speed of the wrapping machine as a function of the size of the incoming gap. The controlling step inc... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6950714 | Method, system and facility for controlling resource allocation within a manufacturing environment A method and system provide for the control of resource allocation within a build-to-order manufacturing environment by monitoring a work-in-process (WIP) profile that represents dynamic attributes of an area in a manufacturing facility. A user interface in a contro... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6634092 | Apparatus for replacing parts connected to circuit board A flash circuit board in a lens-fitted photo film unit includes a board part, and a battery contact part connected to the board part by solder. A part exchanging apparatus for the circuit board includes an eliminating unit, which melts the solder, and rem... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6467605 | Process of manufacturing An automated assembly line is operated and controlled by a computer system. The assembly line includes of a plurality of machines which are each segmented into its basic unit operations providing work stations. The work stations are then controlled by the... | 10/22/2002 |
| 6295728 | Printed circuit board assembly manufacturing system A system for manufacturing a print board assembly, which is implemented in a system having a computer for storing parts insertion instruction diagrams and displaying parts insertion instructions, and a soldering unit for soldering a printed circuit board,... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6076652 | Assembly line system and apparatus controlling transfer of a workpiece An automated assembly line is controlled by a computer system. The assembly line is comprised of a plurality of machines which are each segmented into its basic unit operations providing work stations. The work stations are then controlled by the computer... | 06/20/2000 |
| 6065482 | Non-linear chain belt type conveyor A compact chain belt-type conveyor for conveying articles along a non-linear path through an industrial washer and drier. The chain belt-type conveyor provides an article sensing means wherein the sensing means is responsive to the presence of an article ... | 05/23/2000 |
| 6039168 | Method of manufacturing a product from a workpiece An automated assembly line is operated and controlled by a computer system. The assembly line is comprised of a plurality of machines which are each segmented into its basic unit operations. The segments are then controlled and operated asynchronously wit... | 03/21/2000 |
| 5932081 | Method and device for galvanizing plate-shaped products in horizontal continuous plants The invention relates to a method and device for electroplating plate-shaped product, particularly printed circuit boards, in horizontal continuous plants with optional sequence of product, revolving contacting means serving for electrical connection of a... | 08/03/1999 |
| 5906263 | Monitoring apparatus for a transporting system A transporting system includes a conveyor; a workpiece carrier adapted to be advanced by the conveyor; and a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a presence or absence of the workpiece carrier in a predetermined zone of the conveyor. The monitoring apparat... | 05/25/1999 |
| 5862904 | Line synchronizing apparatus A line sychronizing apparatus includes a conveyer 1 for conveyance of a work, a first transport rail 2 mounted above and in parallel with the conveyer, a main assembly 10 slidably supported on the first transport rail by a plurality of rollers, a second t... | 01/26/1999 |
| 5749383 | Non-linear chain belt type conveyor A compact chain belt-type conveyor for conveying articles along a non-linear path through an industrial washer and drier. The chain belt-type conveyor provides an article sensing means wherein the sensing means is responsive to the presence of an article ... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5614109 | Welding line with quality control storage devices A control system and method for inspection of parts is particularly adapted for inspecting resistance welded parts in a production line environment. A displacement sensor is coupled to a welding electrode for generating a displacement sensor signal respon... | 03/25/1997 |
| 5397540 | System for injecting fluid into spaced containers moving at variable speeds A system for injecting liquid into containers moving through an inspection station at variable speeds without spilling liquid over the outside of, or between, the containers for inspecting the containers for the presence of certain substances such as pote... | 03/14/1995 |
| 5358464 | Conveyor system and multi-speed folder A compact conveyor which passes sheets from a printer to a folder saves valuable floor space while providing the capability of accommodating a short intercopy gap. Sensing means on the conveyor detects the exit of each sheet from the printer and signals a... | 10/25/1994 |
| 5147174 | Robotic tool end assembly This invention pertains to a robotic tool end assembly used to transport a blade of a jet engine to a specific workstation and then to transfer this blade to this workstation. It encompasses gripping means to grip the blade and coupling means that couple ... | 09/15/1992 |
| 5079729 | Alignment measuring system & method An apparatus for measuring the alignment of two or more adjacent lugs while the lugs are in motion is provided. The alignment measuring apparatus includes a first scanner for detecting the leading edge of a first lug and a second scanner for detecting the... | 01/07/1992 |
| 5056646 | Electrostatic-type registration system A non-contact type registration system employing dipole-type electrostatic charges for precisely positioning insulative material to a selected location or workstation.... | 10/15/1991 |
| 5017075 | Apparatus for automatically transporting textile laps to a comber In an apparatus for transporting textile laps to a comber, wherein the apparatus includes a bridge structure for traveling movement between a lap storage station and the comber, a trolley movable along the bridge structure, and a lap gripping mechanism su... | 05/21/1991 |
| 4982831 | Printed circuit board adapter supplying apparatus and method for use in printed circuit board drilling apparatus An apparatus and method for supplying a printed circuit board to a printed circuit board drilling machine and for returning the printed circuit board after the drilling. A stocker stores a plurality of printed circuit boards in a tilted state, and a plura... | 01/08/1991 |
| 4928453 | Apparatus for transferring elongated sample tube holders to and from workstations A method and apparatus for transferring sample holders to and from workstations positioned along a transfer path, including an entrance support having a first transfer for supplying the sample holders to the transfer path, an exit support for receiving th... | 05/29/1990 |
| 4854355 | Stepwise advancing rotary conveyor and installation for taking liquid samples incorporating such a conveyor For passing stepwise bottles (F, F') in front of different stations, in order to more particularly take liquid samples, the bottles are placed in receptacles formed on a plate (24). The rotation of the plate is ensured by a lifting support action using co... | 08/08/1989 |
| 4850104 | System for configuring, automating and controlling operations performed on PCBS and other products A method and apparatus for configuring, automating and controlling the various operations performed on different products, e.g. the testing and/or repair of printed circuit boards, is presented. The apparatus includes one or more work stations and conveyo... | 07/25/1989 |
| 4607338 | Misgrip detection control system for use in a transfer press A misgrip detection control system for detecting unholding or misgrip of a workpiece from a transfer bar in a press. The system comprises a workpiece memory circuit for storing electrically data indicating whether a workpiece is in position of a corresponding ... | 08/19/1986 |
| 4591042 | Coin machine for a newspaper, magazine, food or other item dispensing apparatus A coin machine for collection and checking of different types of coins and for release of a device for dispensing goods when the proper number of coins for the item purchase price is inserted into the coin machine. The coin-checking device comprises a car... | 05/27/1986 |
| 4564100 | Carrier conveyor system A carrier conveyor system wherein carriers are disengaged from the main conveyor in advance of a work station and re-engaged beyond the work station and a transfer conveyor is positioned such that it receives the carriers as they are disengaged, transfers... | 01/14/1986 |
| 4549644 | Article accumulator and transfer system and method An article accumulator and transfer system and method is provided for combining the transfer of articles from a loading station to an unloading station and the accumulation of articles to avoid prolonged, interrupted operation of the unloading station in ... | 10/29/1985 |
