Patents by Inventor Chris Mackey

Chris Mackey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10228303
    Abstract: An automation cell for performing a plurality of secondary operations on manufactured parts is for use with a manufacturing machine operable to perform primary manufacturing of the parts. The automation cell includes a cell housing, a robot with a gripper mechanism capable of loading and unloading a part between the manufacturing machine and the automation cell, a gauging station being a secondary operation device and operable to gauge a parameter of a manufactured part, a marking device for marking the manufactured part, and a vision system for verifying the marking of the manufactured part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Automation Controls & Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore
  • Patent number: 10132717
    Abstract: An automation cell incorporating elements for performing secondary operations on a machined part is adapted to be disposed adjacent to a machining center for performing the primary operations on the part. The cell incorporates a robotic arm capable of being moved into position with respect to the machining center so as to load machined parts into the machining center and unload primarily machined parts for the performance of secondary operations in the cell. In a preferred embodiment the automation cell performs roll check operations on the primarily machined gear by bringing it into meshed engagement with a master gear and rotating the meshed gears and employing a sensor to monitor the roll-out of the machined gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOMATION CONTROLS & ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore
  • Publication number: 20170254724
    Abstract: An automation cell for performing a plurality of secondary operations on manufactured parts is for use with a manufacturing machine operable to perform primary manufacturing of the parts. The automation cell includes a cell housing, a robot with a gripper mechanism capable of loading and unloading a part between the manufacturing machine and the automation cell, a gauging station being a secondary operation device and operable to gauge a parameter of a manufactured part, a marking device for marking the manufactured part, and a vision system for verifying the marking of the manufactured part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore
  • Patent number: 9671310
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring cluster gears for run-out employs a plurality of master gears, each engageable with one of the gears of the cluster and each supported on a fluid cylinder powered slide movable radially to a gear to be measured. As the gear to be measured is rotated, the radial motion of the slides is sensed and compared to maximum values by a computer. An additional master gear, having sections engageable with each gear of a cluster simultaneously on its own slide, may be provided to measure the total run-out of the cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Automation Controls & Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore
  • Publication number: 20170131179
    Abstract: An automation cell incorporating elements for performing secondary operations on a machined part is adapted to be disposed adjacent to a machining center for performing the primary operations on the part. The cell incorporates a robotic arm capable of being moved into position with respect to the machining center so as to load machined parts into the machining center and unload primarily machined parts for the performance of secondary operations in the cell. In a preferred embodiment the automation cell performs roll check operations on the primarily machined gear by bringing it into meshed engagement with a master gear and rotating the meshed gears and employing a sensor to monitor the roll-out of the machined gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore
  • Patent number: 9551628
    Abstract: An automation cell incorporating elements for performing secondary operations on a machined part is adapted to be disposed adjacent to a machining center for performing the primary operations on the part. The cell incorporates a robotic arm capable of being moved into position with respect to the machining center so as to load machined parts into the machining center and unload primarily machined parts for the performance of secondary operations in the cell. In a preferred embodiment the automation cell performs roll check operations on the primarily machined gear by bringing it into meshed engagement with a master gear and rotating the meshed gears and employing a sensor to monitor the roll-out of the machined gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Automation Controls & Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore
  • Publication number: 20150338309
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring cluster gears for run-out employs a plurality of master gears, each engageable with one of the gears of the cluster and each supported on a fluid cylinder powered slide movable radially to a gear to be measured. As the gear to be measured is rotated, the radial motion of the slides is sensed and compared to maximum values by a computer. An additional master gear, having sections engageable with each gear of a cluster simultaneously on its own slide, may be provided to measure the total run-out of the cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore
  • Publication number: 20150276549
    Abstract: An automation cell incorporating elements for performing secondary operations on a machined part is adapted to be disposed adjacent to a machining center for performing the primary operations on the part. The cell incorporates a robotic arm capable of being moved into position with respect to the machining center so as to load machined parts into the machining center and unload primarily machined parts for the performance of secondary operations in the cell. In a preferred embodiment the automation cell performs roll check operations on the primarily machined gear by bringing it into meshed engagement with a master gear and rotating the meshed gears and employing a sensor to monitor the roll-out of the machined gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Predrag Lazic, Chris Mackey, Steve Moore