Patents by Inventor Franz KORBER

Franz KORBER 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).

  • Publication number: 20230159111
    Abstract: A component assembly consists of a first, largely dimensionally stable component having at least two latching protrusions, which are largely diametrically opposed to each other and by which a second, flexible component can be positioned. The second component has cutouts corresponding to the latching protrusions. In an assembled end position, the latching protrusions are positionally fixed in the cutouts. At least one latching protrusion transitions, at the front and at the rear with respect to a positioning direction, into the first component at a largely right angle. Because of the design, very accurate positional fixing between the first component and the second component is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Martin ENDRES, Franz KORBER, Christian WALDHERR
  • Publication number: 20230158690
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping an object includes a base element and at least three gripping arms which are mounted on the base element. The at least three gripping arms are each movable independently of one another relative to the base element and the object can be picked up by the at least three gripping arms. The at least three gripping arms each have a hook-shaped gripping tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Christian AUER, Claus-Peter Baumann, Alois DOBLER, Martin ENDRES, Reinhold HACKL, Franz KORBER, Martin KUHN, Mario MEINHARDT, Maximilian RAINER, Markus SIEBER, Franz STOCKNER
  • Publication number: 20230131941
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a first component to a second component by a ball which is fastened to the first component and which is fastenable in an opening of the second component includes a tool which includes two gripping elements and a retainer. The ball can be encompassed and pulled into the opening in a fastening direction by the two gripping elements. The second component is holdable in a position relative to the tool along the fastening direction by the retainer. The two gripping elements are movable relative to the retainer along the fastening direction to pull the ball into the opening until the first and second components are in contact with one another. The tool is movable in three dimensions by a robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Martin ENDRES, Franz KORBER
  • Publication number: 20230009079
    Abstract: A device for gripping an object includes a base element and at least two gripping arms held on the base element. The at least two gripping arms are movable relative to one another and the base element into a configuration suitable for gripping and picking up the object. Preferably at least three gripping arms are provided, with each arm being able to move independently of one another relative to the base element, and a sensor such as a camera provides signals to electronics which can determine the position of the at least three gripping arms and control movement of the gripping arms into position to grip and pick up the object. A method for gripping and picking up an object using the gripping device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Christian AUER, Claus-Peter BAUMANN, Alois DOBLER, Martin ENDRES, Reinhold HACKL, Franz KORBER, Martin KUHN, Maximilian RAINER, Markus SIEBER, Franz STOCKNER, Stefan WEINMANN
  • Patent number: 11364634
    Abstract: A method for producing or assembling a product which includes at least two components, for example a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle module, by at least two fixing parts. The first fixing part is formed as a female part and the second fixing part is formed as a male part. The components disposed at a processing station and the first fixing part are measured by a measuring device, for example by a stationary camera or a camera fastened on a first or a second manipulator or photogrammetry bar having three cameras, and a deviation from a target geometry or target position is determined, and a corrected target position of the second fixing part is calculated on the basis of the determined deviation, such that the second fixing part is joined together with the first fixing part by the first manipulator and the product is thus produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tobias Becker, Franz Korber, Carsten Lankenau, Christian Strauss
  • Patent number: 11260483
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting at least one component includes a supporting device having a first and at least one second support element, which are mounted movably relative to each other, and a shape-defining device with a surface contour which fits, at least in some regions, a contour of a supporting section of the component. The supporting device can be placed against the shape-defining device, and, by contact of the at least two support elements with the surface contour of the shape-defining device, the first support element can be moved into a defined position relative to the at least second support element, in which position the at least two support elements reproduce the contour of the supporting section, at least in some regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Auer, Martin Endres, Franz Korber, Georgij Safronov
  • Publication number: 20210339348
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting at least one component includes a supporting device having a first and at least one second support element, which are mounted movably relative to each other, and a shape-defining device with a surface contour which fits, at least in some regions, a contour of a supporting section of the component. The supporting device can be placed against the shape-defining device, and, by contact of the at least two support elements with the surface contour of the shape-defining device, the first support element can be moved into a defined position relative to the at least second support element, in which position the at least two support elements reproduce the contour of the supporting section, at least in some regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Christian AUER, Martin ENDRES, Franz KORBER, Georgij SAFRONOV
  • Patent number: 11027367
    Abstract: A tool for laser beam processing is provided. The tool includes an upper tool and a lower tool, which are able to be advanced toward one another by way of a press, such that at least one component is able to be fixed in a predefined position between the upper tool and the lower tool. At least one laser beam exit surface, which is part of an inner surface of the upper tool or lower tool, and at least one laser beam guide, into which laser radiation is able to be coupled and is able to be directed through the laser beam exit surface onto a processing location on the component are provided. A control device, which enables and/or disables the coupling of laser radiation into the at least one laser beam guide depending on the advancing movement between upper tool and lower tool is provided. Furthermore, a laser beam processing apparatus and a method for laser beam processing are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maik Hammer, Johann van Niekerk, Alexander Grimm, Franz Korber
  • Publication number: 20200198144
    Abstract: A method for producing or assembling a product which includes at least two components, for example a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle module, by at least two fixing parts. The first fixing part is formed as a female part and the second fixing part is formed as a male part. The components disposed at a processing station and the first fixing part are measured by a measuring device, for example by a stationary camera or a camera fastened on a first or a second manipulator or photogrammetry bar having three cameras, and a deviation from a target geometry or target position is determined, and a corrected target position of the second fixing part is calculated on the basis of the determined deviation, such that the second fixing part is joined together with the first fixing part by the first manipulator and the product is thus produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Tobias BECKER, Franz KORBER, Carsten LANKENAU, Christian STRAUSS
  • Patent number: 10549703
    Abstract: A fastening claw has an annular section with a radial inner side, from which at least two flexible, tongue-type elements project inwards and obliquely upwards towards an upper side of the fastening claw. The tongue-type elements have free ends which define a central, open region of the fastening claw, into which region a securing element can be introduced from the underside of the fastening claw and can be clamped between the free ends of the tongue-type elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Korber
  • Publication number: 20190118296
    Abstract: A tool for laser beam processing is provided. The tool includes an upper tool and a lower tool, which are able to be advanced toward one another by way of a press, such that at least one component is able to be fixed in a predefined position between the upper tool and the lower tool. At least one laser beam exit surface, which is part of an inner surface of the upper tool or lower tool, and at least one laser beam guide, into which laser radiation is able to be coupled and is able to be directed through the laser beam exit surface onto a processing location on the component are provided. A control device, which enables and/or disables the coupling of laser radiation into the at least one laser beam guide depending on the advancing movement between upper tool and lower tool is provided. Furthermore, a laser beam processing apparatus and a method for laser beam processing are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Maik HAMMER, Johann van NIEKERK, Alexander GRIMM, Franz KORBER
  • Publication number: 20170097026
    Abstract: A component connection has a first component, a male fixing element which is formed by at least one sphere and which is connected to the first component at a connecting point of the first component and which projects from the first component, and a clip element, which is clipped onto the male fixing element in such a way that the clip element bears obliquely from below on the outside of the at least one sphere in a region between an upwardly pointing top of the first component and an equatorial plane of the at least one sphere. The connecting point at which the male fixing element is connected to the first component is an elevation, in particular an outward pressing, or a depression, in particular an inward pressing, of the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Franz KORBER
  • Publication number: 20160258466
    Abstract: A method for fastening components, in particular sheet metal parts in vehicle body manufacturing, has the following steps: providing a first component having at least one receiving opening in a planar region of the first component, a plurality of clamping portions extending from the edge of the receiving opening in the direction of the center of the opening; providing a second component having at least one extension extending from a surface of the second component; and introducing the extension into the receiving opening, thereby bending the clamping portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventor: Franz KORBER
  • Publication number: 20160114739
    Abstract: A fastening claw has an annular section with a radial inner side, from which at least two flexible, tongue-type elements project inwards and obliquely upwards towards an upper side of the fastening claw. The tongue-type elements have free ends which define a central, open region of the fastening claw, into which region a securing element can be introduced from the underside of the fastening claw and can be clamped between the free ends of the tongue-type elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Franz KORBER