Patents by Inventor Jean-François FORGET
Jean-François FORGET 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: 11970348Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Symbotic Canada, ULCInventors: Marc Ducharme, Jean-Francois Forget, Robert Jodoin, Cédric Kessler, Régis Métivier, Sylvain-Paul Morency
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Publication number: 20240132304Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Sylvain-Paul MORENCY, Marc DUCHARME, Robert JODOIN, Philippe HAKIER, Christian SIMON, Jean-François FORGET
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Publication number: 20240116723Abstract: The problem of potentially damaging a pallet layer that is gripped by clamps of a depalletizing tool is solved i) by detecting the real position of the layer using a pad on the tool that is movable with the clamps towards the pallet layer and whose detected stopping position determines the real position of the layer, and ii) while the layer is gripped by the clamp, by inserting under the layer curtains; the pressure on the layer by the clamps being adapted to the ease to go underneath the layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Sylvain-Paul MORENCY, Marc DUCHARME, Robert JODOIN, Tristan PASHLEY, Francis LEVESQUE, Jean-Francois FORGET
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Publication number: 20240051157Abstract: A robotic arm having at least pair of structural members rotatably coupled to one another, with a first one of the structural members defining a central passage. A communications link is at least partially within the robotic arm for signal transmission between within the robotic arm. The communications link includes a signal transmission device having a coiled portion, with ends of the coiled portion adapted to be connected to parts of the communications link, whereby the coiled portion is a segment of the communications link.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2022Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Jean-François FORGET, Nicolas FRIGON
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Patent number: 11845620Abstract: The problem of potentially damaging a pallet layer that is gripped by clamps of a depalletizing tool is solved i) by detecting the real position of the layer using a pad on the tool that is movable with the clamps towards the pallet layer and whose detected stopping position determines the real position of the layer, and ii) while the layer is gripped by the clamp, by inserting under the layer curtains; the pressure on the layer by the clamps being adapted to the ease to go underneath the layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Inventors: Sylvain-Paul Morency, Marc Ducharme, Robert Jodoin, Tristan Pashley, Francis Levesque, Jean-Francois Forget
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Patent number: 11840411Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Inventors: Sylvain-Paul Morency, Marc Ducharme, Robert Jodoin, Philippe Hakier, Christian Simon, Jean-François Forget
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Patent number: 11685052Abstract: A method for operating a vision guided robot arm system comprising a robot arm provided with an end effector at a distal end thereof, a display, an image sensor and a controller, the method comprising: receiving from the sensor image an initial image of an area comprising at least one object and displaying the initial image on the display; determining an object of interest amongst the at least one object and identifying the object of interest within the initial image; determining a potential action related to the object of interest and providing a user with an identification of the potential action; receiving a confirmation of the object of interest and the potential action from the user; and automatically moving the robot arm so as to position the end effector of the robot arm at a predefined position relative to the object of interest.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Kinova Inc.Inventors: Louis-Joseph Caron L'Ecuyer, Jean-Francois Forget, Jonathan Lussier, Sébastien Boisvert
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Publication number: 20230125374Abstract: The problem of potentially damaging a pallet layer that is gripped by clamps of a depalletizing tool is solved i) by detecting the real position of the layer using a pad on the tool that is movable with the clamps towards the pallet layer and whose detected stopping position determines the real position of the layer, and ii) while the layer is gripped by the clamp, by inserting under the layer curtains; the pressure on the layer by the clamps being adapted to the ease to go underneath the layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Sylvain-Paul MORENCY, Marc DUCHARME, Robert JODOIN, Tristan PASHLEY, Francis LEVESQUE, Jean-Francois FORGET
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Patent number: 11623354Abstract: A system comprising an articulated robot arm including assembly of links interconnected with motorized joint units at joints between the links for movements of the links relative to one another, one of the links being a base link. A docking cradle is adapted to be connected to a structure and configured for being releasably connected and for supporting the articulated robot arm. A coupling configuration is between the base link and the docking cradle for powering contact to be made. A clamping system includes one or more clamp members and a clamp lever for locking the base link to the docking cradle at the coupling configuration.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2019Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: KINOVA INC.Inventors: Louis-Joseph Caron L'ecuyer, Jean-Francois Forget, Louis-Pierre Fortin, Sylvain Poulin
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Publication number: 20220411208Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Marc DUCHARME, Jean-Francois FORGET, Robert JODOIN, Cédric KESSLER, Régis MÉTIVIER, Sylvain-Paul MORENCY
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Patent number: 11535463Abstract: The problem of potentially damaging a pallet layer that is gripped by clamps of a depalletizing tool is solved i) by detecting the real position of the layer using a pad on the tool that is movable with the clamps towards the pallet layer and whose detected stopping position determines the real position of the layer, and ii) while the layer is gripped by the clamp, by inserting under the layer curtains; the pressure on the layer by the clamps being adapted to the ease to go underneath the layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Inventors: Sylvain-Paul Morency, Marc Ducharme, Robert Jodoin, Tristan Pashley, Francis Levesque, Jean-Francois Forget
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Publication number: 20220306407Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Sylvain-Paul MORENCY, Marc DUCHARME, Robert JODOIN, Philippe HAKIER, Christian SIMON, Jean-François FORGET
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Patent number: 11427414Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Inventors: Marc Ducharme, Jean-Francois Forget, Robert Jodoin, Cédric Kessler, Régis Métivier, Sylvain-Paul Morency
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Patent number: 11358811Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Inventors: Sylvain-Paul Morency, Marc Ducharme, Robert Jodoin, Philippe Hakier, Christian Simon, Jean-François Forget
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Publication number: 20210237990Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Sylvain-Paul MORENCY, Marc DUCHARME, Robert JODOIN, Philippe HAKIER, Christian SIMON, Jean-François FORGET
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Publication number: 20210179368Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Marc DUCHARME, Jean-Francois Forget, Robert Jodoin, Cédric Kessler, Régis MÉTIVIER, Sylvain-Paul Morency
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Patent number: 10981736Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Inventors: Sylvain-Paul Morency, Marc Ducharme, Robert Jodoin, Philippe Hakier, Christian Simon, Jean-François Forget
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Patent number: 10934107Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Inventors: Marc Ducharme, Jean-Francois Forget, Robert Jodoin, Cédric Kessler, Régis Métivier, Sylvain-Paul Morency
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Publication number: 20200086493Abstract: A method for operating a vision guided robot arm system comprising a robot arm provided with an end effector at a distal end thereof, a display, an image sensor and a controller, the method comprising: receiving from the sensor image an initial image of an area comprising at least one object and displaying the initial image on the display; determining an object of interest amongst the at least one object and identifying the object of interest within the initial image; determining a potential action related to the object of interest and providing a user with an identification of the potential action; receiving a confirmation of the object of interest and the potential action from the user; and automatically moving the robot arm so as to position the end effector of the robot arm at a predefined position relative to the object of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: Kinova Inc.Inventors: Louis-Joseph CARON L'ECUYER, Jean-Francois Forget, Jonathan Lussier, Sébastien Boisvert
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Publication number: 20200086504Abstract: A system comprising an articulated robot arm including assembly of links interconnected with motorized joint units at joints between the links for movements of the links relative to one another, one of the links being a base link. A docking cradle is adapted to be connected to a structure and configured for being releasably connected and for supporting the articulated robot arm. A coupling configuration is between the base link and the docking cradle for powering contact to be made. A clamping system includes one or more clamp members and a clamp lever for locking the base link to the docking cradle at the coupling configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Louis-Joseph CARON L'ECUYER, Jean-Francois FORGET, Louis-Pierre FORTIN, Sylvain POULIN