Patents Examined by Sául Rodriguez
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Patent number: 12071167Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated delivery vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to latch to a motorized vehicle body of the remotely operated delivery vehicle, and to lock the remotely operated delivery vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator. The locking device is arranged to unlock the remotely operated delivery vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2023Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: AutoStore Technology ASInventors: Trond Austrheim, Øystein Gjerdevik, Ingvar Fagerland
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Patent number: 12071304Abstract: A method and associated apparatus are provided for retrieving an object from a multi-depth object storage. The method includes retrieving, via a shuttle, at least a first object from a first depth of a storage location and a second object from a second depth of the storage location. The first depth is less than the second depth, such that the first object positioned at the first depth interferes with retrieval of the second object positioned at the second depth. The method also includes manipulating the first object and the second object, such that the first object is positioned to be disposed into the storage location while the second object remains disposed on the shuttle. The method further includes disposing the first object into the storage location while the second object remains on the shuttle. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2023Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLCInventors: Krishna Praveen Ranjith Kumar, Srinivasa Rao Gudi, Santhosh Kumar Urukonda
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Patent number: 12065322Abstract: A conveying system for conveying a divided material forming a pile includes a trench extending in a main direction. The trench is under a reception location of the pile along an direction of elevation. The conveying system also includes a conveyor extending along a route, which includes at least one reception portion extending into the trench. The conveying system further includes a number of protectors extending across the trench above the reception portion in the direction of elevation, and a carriage adapted to move along the trench and including a first actuator adapted to successively move each protector in the main direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Inventor: René Brunone
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Patent number: 12065309Abstract: A robotic service device is described for use on a robotic picking system grid. The robotic service device is capable of driving to any location on the grid order to perform maintenance operations or cleaning. Additionally, the service device may be used to rescue robotic load handling devices operational in the picking system. The robotic service device may include a releasable docking mechanism to enable it to dock and latch on to malfunctioning load handling devices. The service device may also be provided with cleaning capability and a camera to enable the condition of the grid and other robotic devices to be monitored.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Mark Fryer, Andy Ingram-Tedd, Siddique Shaikh, Sverker Lindbo
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Patent number: 12060253Abstract: An industrial truck includes a loading platform and two masts which are arranged opposed to each other. The two masts lift and lower the loading platform which is arranged between the two masts in a lifting and lowering direction. Each of the two masts includes two pulleys which are arranged spaced apart in the lifting and lowering direction, a flexible pulling device which revolves around each of the two pulleys, and a drive device which rotationally drives at least one of the two pulleys.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: HUBTEX MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Juergen Keller
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Patent number: 12060232Abstract: A core box with interchangeable rails for holding a variety of sizes of cores.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Berry Global, Inc.Inventors: Tim Crowder, Nick Addington, Steven Turner, Cliff Marlin
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Patent number: 12052952Abstract: Fully rotating rotary actuator of a multi-purpose machine in which an axle supports the frame of a felling head by a bearing mount, there being a rotary mechanism driven by a rotary motor between the axle and the frame, and in which the connection of the axle includes rotatable joints, the axle includes conduits for electrical cables and a processing fluid line, and in which an additive fluid line tube is arranged in the conduit in the axle and connected to its lower end is a rotatable connector, which is connected to a second tube fastened in the frame for the application of the additive fluid.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Inventor: Lauri Ketonen
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Patent number: 12057338Abstract: An overhead transport vehicle includes a conveyor to travel along a track, a holder to hold an object to be conveyed, and a lifting driver to lift and lower the holder. The holder includes a base, a holder including a body and a pair of grippers connected to the body in an openable/closable manner, the holder being attached to the base so as to be movable along an opening/closing direction of the pair of grippers, and a first elastic member to restrict, between the base and the body, movement of the holder along the opening/closing direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventor: Makoto Kobayashi
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Patent number: 12054086Abstract: A foldable ramp includes a first ramp element including a first end, a second end, and a first ramp surface extending between the first end and the second end, a second ramp element including a first end portion, a second end portion, and a second ramp surface extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a hinge connecting the second end of the first ramp element and the second end portion of the second ramp element. A first tension element has a first end section connected to the first end and a second end section. A second tension element has a first end segment pivotally connected to the first end portion and a second end segment connected to the second end section.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2022Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Brian V. Castillo
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Patent number: 12054345Abstract: A modular warehouse system and its assembly method are provided. A plurality of storage containers is combined to form a combined storage area, which is provided with a track assembly, a bin gripping robot, and a plurality of bins. An internal space of at least one track-switching container is in communication with the internal space of at least one of the plurality of storage containers. The track-switching container is provided with a track-switching device therein, and the track-track-switching device is configured to switch the bin gripping robot in at least one of the storage containers from a current running track where the bin gripping robot is located to a target running track. An internal space of at least one outbound-inbound container is in communication with the internal space of the track-switching container. The outbound-inbound container is provided with an outbound-inbound device for performing goods outbound-inbound operations.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Inventors: Jun Zhang, Linzi Li, Xiugang Li, Mengwen Zhang
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Patent number: 12049358Abstract: A storage system Includes a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces. A plurality of stackable storage containers are arranged in stacks, the stacks of storage containers being located beneath the rails or tracks. Each stack is located within the footprint of a grid space. A load handling device is arranged to move laterally on the rails or tracks above the stacks of storage containers. The load handling device includes a lifting device arranged to lift storage containers from a top of a stack. The lifting device includes a cable to provide a service from a service source in the load handling device to the one or more storage containers.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2022Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Paul Clarke, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo
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Patent number: 12049741Abstract: A bucket assembly for use with a piece of construction equipment, the bucket assembly including a bucket including a base wall with a leading edge, where the bucket defines a bucket width, and a bucket frame pivotably coupled to the bucket and configured to be mounted to the piece of construction equipment, where the bucket frame defines a pivot axis about which the bucket pivots relative to the bucket frame over a pre-determined range of motion, where the pivot axis is parallel to the base wall of the bucket and perpendicular to the leading edge of the bucket, and where the pivot axis is centered along the bucket width.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2021Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Nilesh T. Kumbhar, Nicholas J. Rokusek, Brett S. Graham
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Patent number: 12050469Abstract: A system for delivering an article from a first location to a second location with a robot having a closeable transport container for housing the article during transport. A closeable recipient container is provided at the second location for receiving the article. At least one computer configured to navigate the robot over an outdoor transportation network between locations is provided. The robot has a robot article transport mechanism controlled by the at least one computer for removing the article from the transport container and the recipient container has a recipient article transport mechanism for moving the article inside the recipient container.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2022Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: Autonomy Squared LLCInventor: Gabriel T Sibley
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Patent number: 12043158Abstract: Techniques are directed to utilizing a liftgate assembly having a platform, a lift subsystem constructed and arranged to selectively raise and lower the platform, and a set of steel beams coupled with the lift subsystem. The set of steel beams is constructed and arranged to hardware mount to a set of aluminum beams of a vehicle. Although the sets of beams are made of different materials, the liftgate assembly and the vehicle body may be securely fastened to each other making the vehicle well suited for a variety of conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Robert Gill, Giovanni Sequeira
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Patent number: 12037185Abstract: A robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory and configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor obtains a first measurement of an angle of slope of a portion of piled granular material in a bulk store. In response to the first measurement satisfying a first condition, the robot traverses the portion of piled granular material to incite sediment gravity flow in the portion of piled granular material by disruption of viscosity of the portion of piled granular material through agitation of the portion of piled granular material by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system. The processor obtains a second measurement of the angle of slope of the portion of piled granular material. In response to the second measurement satisfying a second condition, the robot ceases traversal of the portion of piled granular material.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: Grain Weevil CorporationInventors: Benjamin H. Johnson, Chad E. Johnson, Zane Zents
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Patent number: 12037206Abstract: According to the present embodiment, a cargo-handling apparatus includes a plurality of upper surface sucking portions, at least one side surface sucking portion, a detector, a first moving device, a control unit, and a conveyor. The control unit is configured to select an upper surface sucking portion to be used from the upper surface sucking portions based on the information on the upper surface detected by the detector and control the first moving device to suck the upper surface by the selected upper surface sucking portion and suck the side surface by the side surface sucking portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2020Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventor: Yosuke Yabe
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Patent number: 12033881Abstract: Semiconductor substrate support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body having a substrate support surface. The electrostatic chuck body may define a plurality of protrusions extending from the substrate support surface. The assemblies may include an electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body. The electrode may define apertures through the electrode in line with the plurality of protrusions extending from the substrate support surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Sumanth Banda, Vladimir Knyazik, Stephen D. Prouty
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Patent number: 12030717Abstract: A container-handling vehicle includes a vehicle body and a lifting device for lifting a storage container from a grid. The lifting device includes a lifting band drive assembly connected to the vehicle body, a horizontal lifting frame for releasable connection to a storage container, and four lifting bands connecting the lifting band drive assembly to the lifting frame. The lifting band drive assembly includes a lifting shaft assembly having a lifting shaft and at least one motor for rotating the lifting shaft. The lifting shaft includes a first end section and a second end section. Two of the lifting bands are connected at each of the first and second end sections. The lifting shaft assembly includes at least one electrical insulating element arranged such that the lifting bands connected at the first end section is electrically insulated from the lifting bands connected at the second end section.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: AUTOSTORE TECHNOLOGY ASInventor: Trond Austrheim
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Patent number: 12030730Abstract: A handling device comprising an extending support, comprising a first projection element which is arranged on the support in a rotationally fixed and/or non-displaceable manner and extends in a first projection plane transversely to the support in a first projection direction, comprising a second projection element which is connected to the first projection element via a first joint so as to be pivotable in a second projection plane, comprising a third projection element which is connected to the second projection element via a second joint so as to be pivotable in a third projection plane, wherein, along the support axis, the first projection plane overlies the second projection plane and the second projection plane overlies the third projection plane, wherein the second projection element can be pivoted under the first projection element and the third projection element can be pivoted under the second projection element and the first projection element.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: J. Schmalz GmbHInventors: Ernst Thielicke, Steffen Beck, Jonathan Kohler, Hans Burt, Sandro Katz
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Patent number: 12026660Abstract: A secured container is can be configured to accept deliveries of goods, parcels or other items ordered by a user. The container is secured such that a delivery may be made whist the delivery location is unattended whilst ensuring the delivery is safe. The secured container may be accessed by autonomous vehicles such as drones or quadcopters or other flying platforms.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Paul Clarke, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Pawel Karolinczak