Patents Examined by Donald Underwood
  • Patent number: 8511964
    Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a torso, a pair of arms, two hands, a neck, and a head. The torso extends along a primary axis and presents a pair of shoulders. The pair of arms movably extend from a respective one of the pair of shoulders. Each of the arms has a plurality of arm joints. The neck movably extends from the torso along the primary axis. The neck has at least one neck joint. The head movably extends from the neck along the primary axis. The head has at least one head joint. The shoulders are canted toward one another at a shrug angle that is defined between each of the shoulders such that a workspace is defined between the shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Douglas Martin Linn, Robert O. Ambrose, Myron A. Diftler, Scott R. Askew, Robert Platt, Joshua S. Mehling, Nicolaus A. Radford, Phillip A. Strawser, Lyndon Bridgwater, Charles W. Wampler, II, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Chris A. Ihrke, Matthew J. Reiland, Adam M. Sanders, David M. Reich, Brian Hargrave, Adam H. Parsons, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis
  • Patent number: 8449242
    Abstract: An industrial robot may include an arm unit equipped with a hand structured to place a workpiece on the hand, a column structured to support the arm unit so as to enable the arm unit to move in a vertical direction, a hinge provided at an intermediate position in the vertical direction structured to section and fold the column into a base column and an upper column, supporting members placed on each of the base column and the upper column, screw support members placed on each of the supporting members, a screw shaft that is screwed into the screw support members, a base column side and an upper column side of the screw shaft being threaded reversely to each other, and a screw shaft turning means for turning the screw shaft. The industrial robot carries out transfer work of the workpiece at a predetermined working space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Yazawa, Akiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 8419340
    Abstract: A working machine (1) includes a frame (3), a body section (2) mounted to the frame (3) for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a boom unit (7) having a plurality of booms, including a basal boom (7a), telescopically extendable from and retractable to one another. A support arm (14) is mounted to the body section (2) for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. An end of the support arm (14) is coupled with the basal boom (7a). The basal boom (7a) is pivotable relative to the support arm (14) about a horizontal axis. A first hydraulically operable device extends from the body section (2) to the basal boom (7a) for pivoting the basal boom (7a) relative to the support arm (14) about the horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: E-Vision Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Noriyo Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8419338
    Abstract: Since both a driving means for lifting a work and a driving means for turning operation must have been arranged in a conventional work transfer apparatus, the apparatus has been large in size and heavy in weight. A work transfer apparatus is provided with a holding tool for holding a window, i.e., the work, and a supporting arm for movably supporting the holding tool. The window held by the holding tool is transferred by a supporting arm to window frames to which the window is to be assembled, and the posture of the window is changed to that corresponds to the window frames. Furthermore, the supporting arm is configured to be a closed loop link mechanism wherein a plurality of links are connected to form a closed loop. The posture of the holding tool one link of a pair of links connected to the holding tool of the supporting arm can be fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Konosu, Tadashi Odashima
  • Patent number: 8414247
    Abstract: A method for reloading workpieces includes providing a manipulator having a connecting base and a plurality of grasping assemblies arranged on the connecting base, providing a plurality of original workpieces and a plurality of machined workpieces positioned in a plurality of machining positions, grasping the original workpieces by at least one grasping assembly, with at least one grasping assembly vacant, grasping one machined workpiece by one vacant grasping assembly, rotating the connecting base, so that one original workpiece is placed in one machining position by one grasping assembly, further rotating the connecting base until another vacant grasping assembly is opposite to another machining position, and repeating grasping the machined workpieces from the machining positions and placing the original workpieces on the machining positions until a last original workpiece is placed on one machining position. The manipulator used in the present method for reloading workpieces is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Hsien Yeh, Zhong Qin, Zheng-Jie Han
  • Patent number: 8414246
    Abstract: An intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system is usable with mobile robots, and is applicable to stationary industrial arms. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system provides a large work envelope and a controlled and directed rotational movement for a flexible snake robot arm. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system has the ability to change end effector tools and sensors. The platform computers have the ability to interact with other subsystems for coordinated as well as independent tasks. The flexibly snake robot arm can be covered with a flexible sensor network, or “skin”. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system can manage its energy use, stores the arm in a compact shape and uses a central support tube offering unobstructed arm access to all sectors of its working envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cycogs, LLC
    Inventor: Wayland E. Tobey
  • Patent number: 8382421
    Abstract: A compact transport apparatus that does not cause pollution to its environment is provided. In a transport apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, an installation area of the apparatus is small because first and second rotary shafts are arranged concentrically, and a dead center escaping mechanism has a simple structure with a small thickness. Since a connecting portion of a hand portion can be made thin, an opening of a gate valve through which the hand portion is inserted can be reduced. As a result, it becomes difficult for dust inside a transport chamber to enter a processing chamber. A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a spaced dual shaft-type transport apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Musha, Hirofumi Minami, Kenji Ago, Takashi Asaishi, Toshio Koike
  • Patent number: 8376685
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus having a drive section and a scara arm operably connected to the drive section to move the scara arm. The scara arm has an upper arm and at least one forearm. The forearm is movably mounted to the upper arm and capable of holding a substrate thereon. The upper arm is substantially rigid and is adjustable for changing a predetermined dimension of the upper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio F. Pietrantonio, Anthony Chesna, Hakan Elmoli, Ulysses Gilchrist
  • Patent number: 8366374
    Abstract: A dual arm hydraulic excavator 200 has two front work devices A and B, provided on left and right sides of a front portion of an upper swing structure 3 and swingable in a top-bottom direction of excavator 200. Front work devices A and B have arms 12a, 12b, booms 10a, 10b and working devices 20a, 20b. An average of angle ?a of the arm 12a relative to the boom 10a and angle ?b of the arm 12b relative to the boom 10b is defined as an average arm angle ?c. A range of the average arm angle, in which the average arm angle ?c is larger than a predetermined threshold value ?c2, is defined as an unstable range N. A range of the average arm angle, from an inner side of the unstable range and adjacent to the unstable range, is defined as a stable state limit range M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akinori Ishii
  • Patent number: 8360707
    Abstract: An apparatus generally consisting of a base member mountable on a component of a prime mover which may be pivoted about a transverse axis, a carrier mounted on the base member displaceable along a transverse line of travel between first and second positions and a boom mounted on the carrier, disposable in an inoperative position disposed along such line of travel when the carrier is in its first position and pivotal to an operative position disposed at an angle relative to such line of travel when the carrier is in its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Rockland, Inc
    Inventor: Samuel S. Pratt
  • Patent number: 8348590
    Abstract: A device for treating and/or handling articles (10), especially molds in the production of chocolate articles, comprises a gripper (6) that is arranged on arms (3.1-3.5) which can be displaced along a rail (1) on carriages (2.1-2.4). At least three arms (3.1 to 3.4) are connected to the gripper (6), every arm having its own joint (6, 7, 29) on the gripper (6) which joint is independent of the other arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: KMB Produktions AG
    Inventor: Guido Knobel
  • Patent number: 8342789
    Abstract: A hood for a loader work machine is provided at the rear end of the frame body and downwardly of the transverse connecting member between the pair of right/left support frame members. The transverse connecting member includes a front wall plate and an upper wall plate projecting rearward from an upper end of the front wall plate. The upper wall plate of the transverse connecting member is disposed more downwardly than the vertical center of the cabin. A rear portion of the upper wall plate is inclined downwardly rearward. A hood upper wall is provided for covering a rear upper side between the pair of right/left support frame members. A front end portion of the hood upper wall is connected to the rear portion of the upper wall plate of the transverse connecting member. The hood upper wall is inclined downwardly rearward in correspondence with the rear portion of the upper wall plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoaki Yasuda, Masanori Fujino, Toshihiko Takemura, Yasuo Nakata, Yoshitaka Matsubara, Yoshihiro Ueda, Yuuki Takano, Yusuke Kawai, Ryohei Sumiyoshi, Hiroyuki Anami, Naoya Muramoto, Kenji Mitsui, Youhei Kawano, Takeshi Ikumura
  • Patent number: 8337137
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus has a vertical guide rod, on which a vertical carriage slides, which is integrated with a horizontal carriage, both of which support a transfer bar and gripping members that are responsible for the automatic handling of stamped parts in process. The transfer apparatus has a shaft limiter, below which there is a right angle lever with a stop, and a horizontal guide rod where the horizontal carriage slides. The transfer apparatus has a drive lever to drive a connecting rod which is connected to the right angle lever and has an adjustable stop toward a fixed stop, which limits the travel of the horizontal carriage in the Y-axis direction. The transfer apparatus in question has a continuous operating cycle and is controlled by a central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Luciano Trindade de Sousa Monteiro
  • Patent number: 8322963
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus and method for transferring substrates in a processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, improved device yield performance, a more repeatable wafer processing history (or wafer history), and a reduced footprint when compared to conventional techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Jagan Rangarajan, Michael R. Rice, Penchala N. Kankanala
  • Patent number: 8322969
    Abstract: The front end loader and method of the present invention provides front end loader lift arms that may be removed from an implement, such as a bucket, and secured to the bucket in a cantilevered position for storage of the lift arms. Connections on the implement and lift arms allow the lift arms to be securely interconnected with connections on the bucket without the use of tools or pins so that the center of gravity of the lift arms is above the bucket. The lift arms may then be removed from a utility vehicle. In this storage position, the lift arms are stored and maintained in a secure position so that they may later be easily and quickly reattached to the utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Westendorf Manufacturing, Co.
    Inventors: Neal W. Westendorf, Joseph W. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 8317453
    Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a manipulator that is relatively compact and has a relatively large range of motion. The manipulator includes a linkage that folds back on itself, which reduces the footprint of the linkage. In a particular embodiment, the manipulator includes a linkage and a load balancing device. The linkage includes a first link, a second link, a third link and a fourth link. The first link and second links are rotatably connected to a base about first and second connection axes. The third and fourth links are connected to the first and second links respectively about third and fourth connection axes respectively. The third and fourth links are rotatably connected to a lift arm about fifth and sixth connection axes respectively, wherein the fifth and sixth connection axes are horizontally displaced from the third and fourth connection axes in the direction of the first and second connection axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Ray Givens
  • Patent number: 8308419
    Abstract: A robot includes a base member, which is installed at a position offset from the front of a door of a machine tool to the side, as viewed in a direction vertical to the surface where the door is provided and is fixed to a surface of a base slanted so as to face the door side. A rotary member is coupled to the base member so as to be rotatable about a first axis extending vertical to the slanted surface. A first arm member is coupled to the rotary member so as to be able to swivel about a second axis vertical to the first axis, and a second arm member is coupled to the first arm member so as to be able to swivel about a third axis parallel to the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Ryo Nihei, Satoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8303238
    Abstract: The invention concerns a kinematic device for supporting and programmably moving a terminal element. The platform (11) bearing the terminal element (12) is linked by four swivel joints (9) and (10) with two legs each consisting of two support rods (7) or (8) forming deformable parallelograms mounted each on slides (3) or (4) mobile in the x direction. The pivot plate (29) articulated on the platform (11) about the hinge pin (30) is controlled by the control rods (27), controlling pivoting (14) and lateral displacement (18) connected respectively by the swivel joints (26, 13 and 17) to the slides (3, 12 and 26). It consists in a parallel kinematics with four degrees of freedom, namely three translational and one rotational whereof the angle can be greater than 120°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Willemin Machines S.A.
    Inventors: Markus Thurneysen, Reymond Clavel
  • Patent number: 8303232
    Abstract: There are disposed two second substrate transferring apparatuses 60a and 60b, which are configured to transfer substrates W between substrate processing units 40 and a substrate accommodating part 30, in the up and down direction so as to correspond to the respective groups to which the plurality of substrate processing units 40 are divided. In addition, there is disposed a substrate displacing apparatus 35 that is configured to displace a substrate W, which has been transferred by a first substrate transferring apparatus 50 to the substrate accommodating part 30 and is not yet processed by the wafer processing unit 40, to another position in the up and down direction in the substrate accommodating part 30, as well as displace a substrate W, which has been processed by the wafer processing unit 40a and transferred by the second substrate transferring apparatus 60a to the substrate accommodating part 30, to another position in the up and down direction in the substrate accommodating part 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Seiki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8297906
    Abstract: A work equipment boom is adapted to be attached at one end to a main body of a construction machine and attached at the other end to a work equipment arm. the work equipment boom includes a boom main component. The boom main component is integrally formed by expanding a tubular material. The boom main component has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion includes a first end part arranged to be disposed adjacent to the main body and has a shape which increases in horizontal width as it gets nearer to the first end part. The distal end portion includes a second end part arranged to be disposed adjacent to the work equipment arm and has a shape which increases in horizontal width as it gets nearer to the second end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Nabata, Tatsushi Itou