Patents by Inventor Joe E. Wilburn

Joe E. Wilburn 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: 5561970
    Abstract: A method of automatically transferring contact lenses from a plurality of cups good positioned at a first location to a plurality of packages positioned at a second location wherein each good cup contains a transferable contact lens for placement in an individual blister package comprises a step of communicating positional information of good cup locations to a robotic device having an arm with one or more end effectors thereon, each end effector having a tip in connection with a vacuum and air pressure supply device, each end effector independently moveable with respect to the arm. Then, steps of applying a vacuum to the end effector tip to enable pick-up of a transferable lens from a cup located at a good cup location, and, controlling the robot to effect positioning of one end effector tip within the cup having the transferable lens therein to pick up the lens are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Edie, Thomas J. Wagner, Michael F. Widman, Joe E. Wilburn, Mano Chinnaswamy