Patents Examined by Joshel Rivera
  • Patent number: 11964458
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for teaching a laminating method as well as operating a laminating device, the both being for laminating a film element on a substrate part, in which designated path routes, in particular designated path curves, along which grippers for gripping the film element are subsequently moved to laminate the film element, are determined and taught by way of CAD data of the substrate part as well as the film element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DRÄXLMAIER GROUP
    Inventors: Andreas Jung, Hubert Rehrl, Josef Rehrl
  • Patent number: 11951697
    Abstract: There is provided a scalable area gripper that includes a structural frame and variable vacuum zones coupled to the structural frame. Each variable vacuum zone includes (i) vacuum ports, (ii) one or more movable barrier elements, and (iii) an actuator assembly to move each of the one or more movable barrier elements across one or more of the vacuum port(s), to cause the one or more vacuum port(s) to go between a closed state and an open state. One or more of the variable vacuum zone(s) is configured to be adjusted to each provide an adjusted vacuum zone that corresponds to a corresponding identified section of a material having a start portion and an end portion. Each adjusted vacuum zone is configured to be positioned adjacent to its corresponding identified section of the material, and is configured to be activated to pick up the material during a material handling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Shaun A. McFetridge, Benjamin S. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 11951712
    Abstract: A glass facer for a constructions board includes a first non-woven layer of coarse fibers and a second non-woven layer of coarse fibers and microfibers. The glass facer also includes a binder that simultaneously binds or adheres the coarse fibers of the first non-woven layer together, the coarse fibers and the microfibers of the second non-woven layer together, and the first non-woven layer to the second non-woven layer. The first non-woven layer has a porosity and air permeability that enables the first non-woven layer to absorb a material of the construction board when the glass facer is positioned atop the construction board during manufacture of the construction board. The second non-woven layer is configured to block the material of the construction board from passing through the glass facer to an exterior surface of the second non-woven layer so that the material is not externally visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Souvik Nandi, Glenda B Bennett, Thomas Matthews
  • Patent number: 11945905
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention are directed to bio-based epoxy compositions, and method of their preparation and use. Other embodiments are directed to cured bio-based epoxies, and manufactured articles having bio-based epoxy coatings, adhesives, or composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Jinwen Zhang, Tuan Liu
  • Patent number: 11945202
    Abstract: A curved surface lamination device, comprising a profiling jig (01), the profiling jig (01) comprising a base (101) and a profiling portion (102), with the profiling portion (102) being configured to support a carrier film (02), and the side of the base (101) facing away from the profiling portion (102) being provided with an opening; and a lower jig (03), comprising a first sinking groove (301), with part of the base (101) being inserted into the first sinking groove (301), such that the lower jig (03) encloses a hollow structure (E) with the base (101) at the opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xingguo Liu, Wei Qing, Qiang Tang, Shaokui Liu, Wenwei Mo
  • Patent number: 11949197
    Abstract: A method for joining two workpiece parts during a manufacturing process includes forming a first workpiece part having a first mating surface and forming a second workpiece part having a second mating surface. The first and second workpiece part may be separately distributed or may be joined for distribution. To join the parts, an energy director is formed in the first mating surface by an automated process, the energy director comprising an end portion projecting from the first mating surface such that the projecting end portion of the energy director engages the second mating surface when the first and second workpiece parts are brought into engagement with each other. In one example, the first and second workpiece parts are ultrasonically welded by pressing the parts together while vibrating at least one of the first workpiece part or the second workpiece part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert William Sutter
  • Patent number: 11931993
    Abstract: A bonding method and a bonding device for a flexible panel. In the process of bonding a protective cover plate and the flexible panel, a heated-type optical adhesive is used, the optical adhesive at normal temperature has relatively low viscosity and the viscosity thereof is below a bondable threshold, so that before the flexible panel and the edge of the protective cover plate are bonded, the optical adhesive and the edge of the protective cover plate come into contact in advance and then can be effectively separated, thus poor bonding in a bending region is avoided, the risk of generating bubbles and cracks is small, and the bonding yield can be improved. Moreover, the optical adhesive is increased in viscosity after heated, thereby ensuring that the flexible panel is bonded to the protective cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jia Deng, Jialin Wang, Rongkun Fan, Shengqiang Wu, Xue Meng, Yuanhong Wen, Senlin Ma, Chaoxue Qin, Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 11919248
    Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: IKEA Supply AG, WoodWelding SA
    Inventors: Muthumariappan Sankaran, Mario Lehmann, Laurent Torriani
  • Patent number: 11912457
    Abstract: A robotic labeling system includes a package locating system and a package identification station identifying a package orientation. The robotic labeling system includes a label application station having first and second label printers and first and second label applicators. The label printers are both capable of printing a shipping label and a customer specific label. The first label applicator applies a first label (either the shipping label or the customer specific label) to a first side of the package while the second label applicator applies a second label (other of the shipping label or the customer specific label) to a second side of the package different than the first side. The printing and application of the labels is based on the orientation of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co. Ltd., TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Fevre, Du Wen, Sonny O. Osunkwo, Lei Zhou, Jiankun Zhou, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu
  • Patent number: 11912007
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a composite structural laminate comprising fabric, polymer, and fiber layers. During production, the laminate base is heated and compressed several times to improve adhesion of the layers which results in improved laminate strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: HORTON WORLD SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel D Shannon, Fred Arthur Simmons
  • Patent number: 11905064
    Abstract: A control module for a labelling apparatus, including: an input configured to receive a label generation request indicating a food item to be labelled; an output configured to provide a print signal to a label printing device; and a processor configured to: identify a set of ingredients of the indicated food item in response to receipt of the label generation request; and verify that the identified set of ingredients of the food item is a most recent set of ingredients of the food item. If the identified set of ingredients of the food item is verified as the most recent, the print signal is output to cause the label printing device to print an information label indicating the set of ingredients of the food item. If the identified set of ingredients cannot be verified as the most recent set of ingredients, provision of the print signal is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Cartwright
  • Patent number: 11894248
    Abstract: A protective member attaching apparatus includes a pressure reduction chamber having an upper housing and a lower housing, a support table that is provided inside the lower housing and on which a substrate is mounted, a sheet fixing section for fixing the sheet in such a manner as to partition the inside space of the pressure reduction chamber into a first space and a second space, a heating unit that heats the sheet to soften the sheet, and a control unit. The sheet fixing section has an outer periphery fixing section that fixes an outer periphery of the sheet, and a temporary fixing section that temporarily fixes a central portion of the sheet to the substrate mounted on a support table through a gap between the sheet and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kakinuma
  • Patent number: 11891207
    Abstract: A container treatment machine comprises a treatment unit, for the treatment of containers, and container receptacles, in which containers can be received such that they can rotate about an axis, the container treatment machine comprising a camera, for capturing an image of a container transported upstream of the treatment unit in a container receptacle, and an alignment module, the alignment module being designed to rotate a container into a target position by actuating the container receptacle. The alignment module comprises a neural network, which, by processing the image of a container transported upstream of the treatment unit in a container receptacle, can determine a necessary rotation of the container from the current position of same to the target position, and the alignment module can control the rotation of the container receptacle on the basis of the determined rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: KRONES AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Herbert Kolb
  • Patent number: 11890804
    Abstract: An edge banding machine includes a base, and whereon a drive motor including a power outputting shaft, an edge band conveying mechanism having a pneumatic cylinder, a pushing block and an edge band conveying shaft parallel to the power outputting shaft, and a universal bearing. The pushing block is disposed at a terminal end of a telescopic rod of the pneumatic cylinder capable of being driven to lengthen or shorten to make an edge band approach or leave the edge band conveying shaft. Two ends of the universal bearing are connected with the power outputting shaft and edge band conveying shaft respectively, enabling the drive motor to rotate the edge band conveying shaft through the universal bearing. Through the configuration with the universal bearing, the edge band conveying shaft and power outputting shaft can be quickly connected for the completion of the whole edge banding machine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: OAV EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Yen-Tsung Chang
  • Patent number: 11884444
    Abstract: A system moves items, like containers and/or pallets, through a label printing station. The station has a label printer that prints adhesive labels; and a robot arm terminating at a movable end with a suction pad or vacuum device and sensors. The station has sensors configured to measure a height of the item; and a processor coupled to receive the height of the item, to control the robot arm and label printer, and to receive label information from a server. The processor has a memory containing code that computes desired label positions based on height of the container/pallet. A method of labeling an item includes printing an adhesive label with the label information obtained from a server; receiving the adhesive label on a suction pad or vacuum device attached to a movable end of a robot arm, and determining a first labeling position from measured height of the container/pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SHAW INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Michael Ghere, Timothy David Ralston
  • Patent number: 11878499
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus, system, and method for activating a low-adhesion state of a thermal-sensitive tape is described. An example apparatus embodiment includes a light source and a temperature sensor. The light source is configured to illuminate a target area of the thermal-sensitive tape with a first spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to provide heating of the target area. The first spectrum including a first wavelength outside of a visible spectrum. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a second spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to approximate a temperature of the target area. The second spectrum includes a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Mark E. Fauver, Eric J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 11872779
    Abstract: A method of the invention produces a composite material conjugate in which a first composite material and a second composite material are adhered without using an adhesive, wherein a first prepreg laminate to which a release member is attached is cured to form the first composite material, the release member being made of a material that does not transfer silicone and fluorine to the first prepreg laminate, after detaching the release member from the first composite material, surface treatment that imparts polar functional groups to the surface of the first composite material to which the release member was bonded is carried out to activate the surface, a second prepreg laminate is placed directly on the activated surface of the first composite material, and the second prepreg laminate is cured to form a second composite material adhered to the first composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Akiyama, Kiyoka Takagi
  • Patent number: 11873129
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing part configured to perform printing on a recording medium in which a label is attached to a backing sheet, transport rollers configured to sandwich and transport the recording medium, a peeling member configured to peel off the label from the backing sheet by bending the recording medium, and a tensioner configured to apply a tension in a direction opposite to a transport direction of the recording medium transported by the transport rollers to the recording medium, wherein, in the transport direction, the transport rollers are positioned downstream of the peeling member, and the tensioner is positioned upstream of the peeling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Takami
  • Patent number: 11872795
    Abstract: A unit plate position fixation method and device and a lamination machine are provided. The unit plate position fixation method includes: obtaining peripheral position information of unit plates located between two layers of separators; controlling a hot-pressing device according to the peripheral position information to perform hot pressing on the two layers of separators, so that the two layers of separators are adhered at peripheral positions of the unit plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GEESUN INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Panpan Li, Ke Xie, Xin Fu, Xueke Wu, Rukun Yang
  • Patent number: 11873130
    Abstract: A robotic labeling system includes a package locating system, a package identification system having a scanning device configured to scan an identification tag on the package to identify an orientation of the package in the labeling station, and a label application system including a label printer and a label applicator. The label printer prints at least one label for the package. The label applicator includes a multi-axis robot having an arm movable in three-dimensional space. The label applicator has a portrait end effector coupled to the arm configured to transport the label from the label printer to the package in a portrait orientation. The label applicator has a landscape end effector coupled to the arm configured to transport the label from the label printer to the package in a landscape orientation. The label applicator is operated based on the orientation of the package in the labeling station as determined by the scanning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Du Wen, Edward T. Price, III, Hung Nguyen, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Jiankun Zhou