Patents Examined by Brendan Tighe
  • Patent number: 9624649
    Abstract: A lower traveling structure (2) having front wheels (16) and rear wheels (17) provided on a chassis (12) extending in a front and rear direction, an upper revolving structure (4) rotatably mounted on the chassis (12), and a working mechanism (11) provided on a front side of the upper revolving structure (4) and at an intermediate position in a left and right direction are provided. On the other hand, a towing through hole (14J, 14K) bored through an upper side position on both left and right sides and in a front and rear direction and used for mounting a cable in towing is provided on a front attachment mounting plate (14) provided on a front side position of the chassis (12) constituting the upper revolving structure (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Oota, Hiroshi Tsukui, Yuuichi Todokoro
  • Patent number: 9623531
    Abstract: Workpieces are unloaded from a workpiece support of a sheet metal workpiece processing apparatus by positioning a blank sheet metal workpiece over a processed workpiece supported on a workpiece support, with the blank workpiece releasably held by a workpiece loader, activating a workpiece fixing device to engage an edge of the processed workpiece, and performing a relative sweeping movement between the workpiece fixing device and the workpiece support whereby the engaged processed workpiece is prevented from remaining on the workpiece support and is thereby unloaded. The workpiece fixing device is moved relative to the processed workpiece while the blank sheet metal workpiece is positioned over the processed workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Trumpf Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Bytow, Katsuya Enomoto
  • Patent number: 9616580
    Abstract: An end effector for a robotic arm is disclosed. The end effector includes a grasping apparatus having a gripping member and an appendage extending from the gripping member forming a channel between the griping member and the appendage. The channel is configured to receive at least a portion of an article, such as a latch for a container, to be manipulated by the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sarcos LC
    Inventors: Fraser M. Smith, Michael Morrison, Glenn Colvin, Jr., Wayco Scroggin
  • Patent number: 9611616
    Abstract: A bucket attaching structure of a construction machine and a construction machine including a fixed jaw portion attached to a distal end portion of an operation arm and a movable jaw portion attached to a distal end portion of a piston through a bucket link. The fixed jaw portion and the movable jaw portion are each partially open and each include a semicircular arc-shaped engagement portion that corresponds to an outer peripheral surface of a corresponding bucket connecting pin. The bucket attaching structure of a construction machine and the construction machine include semicircular arc-shaped closure portions that each support the bucket connecting pins together with the semicircular arc-shaped engagement portions by, after engaging each semicircular arc-shaped engagement portion with the corresponding connecting pin, closing a partially open side of the corresponding semicircular arc-shaped engagement portion of the fixed jaw portion and that of the movable jaw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha MYC
    Inventor: Shun Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9607872
    Abstract: An inline system including a first apparatus having a first processing unit for processing a workpiece and an unloading area for unloading the workpiece processed by the first processing unit, a second apparatus having a loading area for loading the workpiece unloaded from the unloading area and a second processing unit for processing the workpiece loaded to the loading area, a transfer unit for transferring the workpiece from the unloading area to the loading area, and a position detecting unit for imaging the unloading area to detect the position of the unloading area and also imaging the loading area to detect the position of the loading area. The transfer unit transfers the workpiece from the unloading area to the loading area according to the position of the unloading area and the position of the loading area detected by the position detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuma Sekiya
  • Patent number: 9586325
    Abstract: A pick-and-place head for picking a plurality of work-pieces from at least one first location and for placing the plurality of work-pieces at least one second location is disclosed. The pick-and-place head exhibits a plurality of nozzles, wherein each nozzle is configured to engage one of the work-pieces by action of a vacuum. At least one nozzle has an individual vacuum supply and at least two further nozzles have a shared vacuum supply. A corresponding method is also disclosed, the method including the steps of approaching at least one of the plurality of work-pieces with a respective nozzle and then starting generation of a vacuum at each respective nozzle. The generation of vacuum in at least one nozzle is achieved by an individual vacuum supply, and generation of vacuum in at least two further nozzles is achieved by a shared vacuum supply of the at least two further nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Carl Truyens
  • Patent number: 9579804
    Abstract: Described herein is a conveyance robot. In certain aspects, a conveyance robot can include a first link member configured to be rotatable about a first axis, a second link member configured to be rotatable about a second axis positioned at a predetermined distance relative to the first axis, a holding member configured to be capable of holding an article and rotating about a third axis positioned at a predetermined distance relative to the second axis, an ascending and descending drive unit for driving at least the holding member to ascend and descend. In certain aspects, an arm link mechanism can be included. The arm link mechanism can be constituted by connecting the first link member, the second link member, and the holding member in this order, and the ascending and descending drive unit is placed between the first link member and the holding member so as to form a part of the arm link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Kato, Shigeki Ono
  • Patent number: 9573235
    Abstract: A transfer unit of a test handler includes a base frame, a floating assembly, and an arm part. The base frame includes an inserted portion having a penetration hole. The inserted portion including an upper inserted portion disposed near an upper surface of the inserted portion, a lower portion disposed near a lower portion of the inserted portion and a middle inserted portion disposed between the upper inserted portion and the lower inserted portion. The floating assembly is inserted in the penetration hole of the base frame. The floating assembly includes a floating part, an elastic element, and a coupling element. The floating assembly moves back and forth, to left and right sides, and up and down, or flows within a predetermined angle range in the penetration hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-An Lee, Bum-Sic Kim, Young-Gil Lee, Chea-Geun Lim
  • Patent number: 9562340
    Abstract: An excavating bucket includes a bottom surface section, a bucket body having a rear surface section and a side surface section, a lip section, a bracket, and teeth. The lip section is fixed to an edge portion of the bucket body at an opposite side to the rear surface section. The bracket has a hole through which a coupling pin for attaching to the arm passes. When the length of a virtual line S1 linking the center of the hole and the front end of the lip section is set as a wrist radius V, a length of the longest line segment perpendicular to the virtual line S1 from the virtual line S1 to the bottom surface section is set as a bucket depth D, and the angle formed between the lip section and the virtual line S1 is set as a lip angle ?, 62°???72° and 0.7?D/V?0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yoshida, Tatsuo Aira, Daijiroh Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9550329
    Abstract: A universal loading station for a 3D printer includes a knob, a ball screw, a telescopic connecting ring, a telescopic connecting rod, and a loading plate. The top of the ball screw ball screw and the bottom of the knob are connected by a threaded connection. The ball screw is below the knob and includes an outer sleeve which includes a spring. A fixed connection sleeve surrounds the outer sleeve of the spring. A connecting arm is connected to a side of the fixed connection sleeve. The bottom of the ball screw is connected to the telescopic connecting ring. The bottom of the telescopic connecting ring includes a first hemispherical recess, and the center of the first hemispherical recess includes a first hole. The telescopic connecting ring is placed onto the ball screw through the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Jiangsu Rich-Opto Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yin Wu
  • Patent number: 9540196
    Abstract: Devices and methods for handling workpieces, in particular workpieces in the form of processing products of a metal sheet processing operation, are described. The devices include one or more retention members that are movably supported by a retention member bearing and a transverse guide device. If the transverse guide device is moved relative to the retention member along a lifting axis out of a non-operative lifting position into an operative lifting position or out of an operative lifting position into a non-operative lifting position on a fixed retention member bearing, the retention member is thereby moved from a non-operative position into an operative position or out of an operative position into a non-operative position. In the operative position, the retention member can engage behind an edge of a workpiece, but cannot do so in the non-operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: TRUMPF Sachsen GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Bauch, Christoph Protze
  • Patent number: 9533612
    Abstract: A rotating lift system and method for transporting oversized agricultural implements. The rotating lift system includes a rotator arm, a rotator arm guide, and an arcuate rotation track all mounted on a trailer frame. A load lift assembly is mounted on the rotator arm and is movable between lowered and raised positions and is adapted for connecting to a load. The rotator arm is pivotally connected to the trailer frame and rotates about a vertical axis. The rotator arm guide is connected to the opposing end of the rotator arm and engages the rotation track. The rotating lift system and method are adapted for engaging, lifting and rotating an implement and moving the implement between perpendicularly opposed field use and transport positions. A gas strut may optionally be equipped to aid in the lifting process. A telescoping light bar may be included to increase safety while in transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bestway, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Patrick Meenen, David C. Benson, Michael A. Brainard
  • Patent number: 9524892
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention discloses cleaned storage processes and systems for high level cleanliness articles, such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) reticle carriers. A decontamination chamber can be used to clean the stored workpieces. A purge gas system can be used to prevent contamination of the articles stored within the workpieces. A robot can be used to detect the condition of the storage compartment before delivering the workpiece. A monitor device can be used to monitor the conditions of the stocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
  • Patent number: 9505126
    Abstract: An industrial robot includes a parallel kinematics mechanism that provides three degrees of freedom to a ring structure while maintaining the ring structure substantially in a fixed orientation relative to a reference plane established by a stationary base plate. A pivot sleeve is suspended within the stationary base plate and may pivot on two perpendicular axes of an intermediate gimbal. An elongate boom is mounted within the pivot sleeve and extends from an upper end through the pivot sleeve to a lower end. An end effector is mounted at the lower end of the elongate boom and is arranged for carrying a work element. Gimbal rings are located at the upper and lower ends of the elongate boom and are interconnected by a control linkage to maintain the end effector substantially parallel to the ring structure during movement of the end effector through a three-dimensional work envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Michele D'Egidio
  • Patent number: 9505137
    Abstract: A tip end part of a main arm member of a Scott Russell mechanism is enabled to be brought close to a base end part of a sub arm member. A Scott Russell mechanism device is formed into a boomerang-like shape such that a main arm member coupled to a sub arm member is curved to detour a coupling position. Thus, when the coupling angle is changed so that a base end part of the main arm member and a base end part of the sub arm member are most separated from each other, a tip end part of the main arm member can be moved close to right beside the base end part of the sub arm member. With the Scott Russell mechanism device, a moving range of the tip end side of the main arm member can be enlarged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SQUSE Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Sasaki, Mikio Shimizu, Yasunori Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9437469
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus for a processing tool. The apparatus has a drive section, a movable arm, and an end effector. The arm is operably connected to the drive section. The end effector is connected to the movable arm for holding and transporting the substrate in the processing tool. The apparatus has a substrate inertial capture edge grip connected to the end effector and arranged so that the grip effects capture and centering of the substrate onto the end effector from substrate inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony V. DiBella, Dennis Poole, William Fosnight
  • Patent number: 9427876
    Abstract: A robotic joint assembly includes a first structural member, a second structural member, and a rolling flexure joint joining the first structural member to the second structural member to provide at least one degree of freedom between the first and second structural members. The rolling flexure joint includes first and second flexible hinge members each having one end secured to the first structural member and an opposing end secured to the second structural member. The first and second flexible hinge members cross one another between the first and second structural members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Annan Michael Mozeika, Mark Robert Claffee, Martin Buehler
  • Patent number: 9428293
    Abstract: A box packing device includes a dropping part configured to drops a laterally opened cardboard box in the state in which the lateral flaps of the cardboard box are open before and after dropping. The dropping part has an upper guide mechanism and a lower guide mechanism. The upper guide mechanism includes first upper guide portions that oppose front faces of the flaps and second upper guide portions that oppose rear faces of the flaps. The lower guide mechanism includes a first lower movable guide portion and a first lower fixed guide portion that oppose the front faces of the flaps, second lower guide portions that oppose the rear faces of the flaps, and a first drive unit for driving the second lower guide portions towards the first lower guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yokota, Atsushi Takahashi, Hiroaki Tokura, Takeshi Noguchi, Seisaku Iwasa
  • Patent number: 9404235
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement for fluid coupling a work tool to a machine comprising a plurality of coupler assemblies slideably mounted in a plurality of corresponding cavities for coupling a machine fluid circuit and a work tool fluid circuit, the coupler assembles partitioning the cavities to form chambers; and a rail circuit connecting the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Work Tools B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelius Antonius Maria Van Hooft, Dirk Jacobus Luyendijk, Holger Jongebloed
  • Patent number: 9387592
    Abstract: There is provided a gas-pressure type gravity compensation elevator for ascending/descending a load object, which includes a control part. The control part is adapted to selectively connect a constant-pressure gas cylinder maintained at a constant pressure according to the grasping state, to a gas cylinder for exerting a driving force in the direction of ascent on an elevating mechanism. Further, the control part is adapted to control a sum of a volumes in the gas cylinder and the constant-pressure gas cylinder such that it equals to a sum of their average volumes, every time the grasping state is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Asai