Patents by Inventor Dragan Jurkovic
Dragan Jurkovic 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).
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Patent number: 11953877Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: NILE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, Chih-Chi Chang, Chang-chu Liao, Ming-Feng Jean, Kuo-Hung Lee, Yen-Hsi Liu, Hung-Yu Wu
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Publication number: 20240065386Abstract: A method for locating critical control points on a part or combination of parts during a manufacturing process involves mating, directly or indirectly, a jig extension to the part or parts. A pattern on the jig extension defines an origin point that is used to track the position of the part or parts during manufacturing, such as during location-sensitive operations. The jig extension may be a shoe last extension which connects to a shoe or shoe component via a shoe last.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Ming-Feng Jean, Chin-Yi Lin, Chun-Chi Lin
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Patent number: 11844403Abstract: A method for locating critical control points on a part or combination of parts during a manufacturing process involves mating, directly or indirectly, a jig extension to the part or parts. A pattern on the jig extension defines an origin point that is used to track the position of the part or parts during manufacturing, such as during location-sensitive operations. The jig extension may be a shoe last extension which connects to a shoe or shoe component via a shoe last.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Ming-Feng Jean, Chin-Yi Lin, Chun-Chi Lin
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Patent number: 11825915Abstract: An apparatus for buffing a shoe part includes a housing adapted to be articulated around at least a portion of the footwear part. A rotating spindle is positioned in the housing and has a buffing surface for engagement with the footwear part. A carriage is slideably connected to the housing and holds the spindle such that the buffing surface can be moved closer to and further away from the footwear part. An actuator is in the housing and in contact with the carriage. The actuator applies force to the carriage to increase the force of the buffing surface onto the footwear part. A biasing member is in the housing and in contact with the carriage. The biasing member exerts force onto the carriage in a direction opposite the force exerted by the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Shih-Yuan Wu, Chia-Wei Chang, Wen-Ruei Chang, Chien-Chun Chen, Chang-Chu Liao, Chia-Hung Lin
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Patent number: 11763045Abstract: A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Dragan Jurkovic, Chih-Chi Chang, Ming-Feng Jean
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Publication number: 20230200497Abstract: A last extension for a shoe last provides a pattern defining an origin location. The origin location on the last extension can be used to identify locations or points on a last or a shoe component on a last for control of location-critical manufacturing operations, including decorative and functional operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Philip Mars, Yu-Shu Hsiao, Chun-Chi Lin
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Patent number: 11653720Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the quality of a surface treatment applied to an article in a manufacturing process are provided. A surface treatment may be applied to at least a portion of an article. A thermal profile of the article may be obtained and used to determine temperature indications of different regions of the article to which the surface treatment has been applied. A standard model of the article may be obtained that includes model regions having model temperature ranges. The temperature indications of the article can be compared with the model temperature ranges to determine if any temperature indications are outside of a corresponding model temperature range. The article may be a shoe part. The surface treatments may include the application of heat, plasma, dye, paint, primer, and/or the application of other materials, substances, and/or processes.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Chun-Wei Huang, Jen-Chuan Lin, Shih-Yuan Wu, Chih-Chun Chai, Ming-Ji Lee, Chien-Liang Yeh
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Patent number: 11596206Abstract: A last extension for a shoe last provides a pattern defining an origin location. The origin location on the last extension can be used to identify locations or points on a last or a shoe component on a last for control of location-critical manufacturing operations, including decorative and functional operations.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Philip Mars, Yu-Shu Hsiao, Chun-Chi Lin
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Publication number: 20230041146Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, Chih-Chi Chang, Chang-chu Liao, Ming-Feng Jean, Kuo-Hung Lee, Yen-Hsi Liu, Hung-Yu Wu
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Patent number: 11507046Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, Chih-Chi Chang, Chang-Chu Liao, Ming-Feng Jean, Kuo-Hung Lee, Yen-Hsi Liu, Hung-Yu Wu
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Publication number: 20220330663Abstract: An apparatus for buffing a shoe part includes a housing adapted to be articulated around at least a portion of the footwear part. A rotating spindle is positioned in the housing and has a buffing surface for engagement with the footwear part. A carriage is slideably connected to the housing and holds the spindle such that the buffing surface can be moved closer to and further away from the footwear part. An actuator is in the housing and in contact with the carriage. The actuator applies force to the carriage to increase the force of the buffing surface onto the footwear part. A biasing member is in the housing and in contact with the carriage. The biasing member exerts force onto the carriage in a direction opposite the force exerted by the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Shih-Yuan Wu Wu, Chia-Wei Chang, Wen-Ruei Chang, Chien-Chun Chen, Chang-Chu Liao, Chia-Hung Lin
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Patent number: 11472930Abstract: Rubber pellets are coated with an anti-tack material. The anti-tack material may be comprised of a metallic stearate, such as magnesium stearate. The coated rubber pellets are loaded on to a rotational conveyance mechanism that rotates at a speed and radial amount to provide an interaction time between the rubber pellets and the anti-tack material. The coated rubber pellets may then be dried in a centrifuge dryer having a plurality of angled fins extending from a rotational shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Chun-Wei Huang, Eric Lee, Liu I Huang, Shih Chi Tung, Wang Hsi Ming
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Publication number: 20220287415Abstract: A method for locating critical control points on a part or combination of parts during a manufacturing process involves mating, directly or indirectly, a jig extension to the part or parts. A pattern on the jig extension defines an origin point that is used to track the position of the part or parts during manufacturing, such as during location-sensitive operations. The jig extension may be a shoe last extension which connects to a shoe or shoe component via a shoe last.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Ming-Feng Jean, Chin-Yi Lin, Chun-Chi Lin
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Patent number: 11406160Abstract: An apparatus for buffing a shoe part includes a housing adapted to be articulated around at least a portion of the footwear part. A rotating spindle is positioned in the housing and has a buffing surface for engagement with the footwear part. A carriage is slideably connected to the housing and holds the spindle such that the buffing surface can be moved closer to and further away from the footwear part. An actuator is in the housing and in contact with the carriage. The actuator applies force to the carriage to increase the force of the buffing surface onto the footwear part. A biasing member is in the housing and in contact with the carriage. The biasing member exerts force onto the carriage in a direction opposite the force exerted by the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Shih-Yuan Wu, Chia-Wei Chang, Wen-Ruei Chang, Chien-Chun Chen, Chang-Chu Liao, Chia-Hung Lin
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Publication number: 20220245293Abstract: A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Dragan Jurkovic, Chih-Chi Chang, Ming-Feng Jean
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Patent number: 11382391Abstract: A method for locating critical control points on a part or combination of parts during a manufacturing process involves mating, directly or indirectly, a jig extension to the part or parts. A pattern on the jig extension defines an origin point that is used to track the position of the part or parts during manufacturing, such as during location-sensitive operations. The jig extension may be a shoe last extension which connects to a shoe or shoe component via a shoe last.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Ming-Feng Jean, Chin-Yi Lin, Chun-Chi Lin
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Patent number: 11341291Abstract: A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Dragan Jurkovic, Chih-Chi Chang, Ming-Feng Jean
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Patent number: 11338449Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Grabit, Inc.Inventors: Harsha Prahlad, Richard J. Casler, Susan Kim, Matthew Leettola, Jon Smith, Kenneth Tan, Patrick Wang, John Mathew Farren, Patrick Conall Regan, Po Cheng Chen, Howard Fu, Dragan Jurkovic, Aishwarya Varadhan, Chang-Chu Liao, Chih-Chi Chang, Kuo-Hung Lee, Ming-Feng Jean
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Publication number: 20220097083Abstract: A nozzle dispenses a material, such as an adhesive, primer, paint, or other coating, through a dispensing port on to a substrate. The spray pattern provided by the nozzle defines, at least in part, an application pattern of the material on to the substrate. An air mask port integral with the nozzle or a separate nozzle expels a mask stream of pressurized gas. The mask stream projects toward the substrate to aid in limiting an application of the material beyond an application line on the substrate. The air-mask port and the dispensing port may be moved relative to the substrate and/or the application line such that the mask stream provides a barrier to the material being applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Che-Sheng Chen, Chien-Liang Yeh
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Patent number: 11203123Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with vacuum for the pick up and release of materials, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Grabit, Inc.Inventors: Harsha Prahlad, Richard J. Casler, Susan Kim, Matthew Leettola, Jon Smith, Kenneth Tan, Patrick Wang, John Mathew Farren, Patrick Conall Regan, Po Cheng Chen, Honam Ko, Dragan Jurkovic, Aishwarya Varadhan, Tsung Tai Chien, Chang-Chu Liao, Chih-Chi Chang, Kuo-Hung Lee, TaeHoun Kim