Patents Examined by Saúl Rodríguez
  • Patent number: 11963482
    Abstract: A dual auger grain cart includes a horizontal auger assembly, a vertical auger assembly, and a drive assembly operatively connected to the horizontal and vertical auger assemblies. The horizontal and vertical auger assemblies each include an auger shaft and flighting disposed on the auger shaft. The drive assembly includes a first member operatively connected to the horizontal auger shaft, a second member operatively connected to the vertical auger shaft, and a power input device operatively connected to the first and second drive members to drive rotation of the horizontal and vertical auger shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Schlimgen, Michael D. Van Mill
  • Patent number: 11952243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a racking bay tower construction method, the racking bay including upright members with shelf-frames installed therebetween, the construction method including use of a method of moving an item, the item being a preassembled shelf-frame, between adjacent upright members of a racking bay tower, the shelf-frame moving method including: mounting a first preassembled shelf-frame onto a jig table such that the shelf-frame is in an angular orientation; and lifting the first shelf-frame from the jig table, the jig table being positioned between lower ends of adjacent upright members, to an installation position between upper ends of the adjacent upright members, while maintaining the angular position of the first shelf-frame, and then installing the first shelf-frame in a desired orientation in its installation position; and then mounting a second preassembled shelf-frame onto a jig table such that the second shelf-frame is in an angular orientation; and lifting the second shelf-frame
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ginco Industries Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Gino Paul Imbrogno
  • Patent number: 11945703
    Abstract: An assistance system uses cameras and sensors to identify a set of vehicle wheels within a lift area, then virtualizes the position and orientation of the vehicle relative to one or more lift posts. The system also determines a center of gravity for the vehicle and uses that center of gravity and other information associated with the vehicle to determine a position within the lift area at which the vehicle should be positioned. The system may also provide guidance to aid in positioning the vehicle at or near that position. Such guidance may be provided as one or more visual or audio indicators or via a software interface. The system may be integrated with lift arms allowing for automated rotation, extension, and elevation of lift adapters once the vehicle is positioned, and it may use distributed processing to locate relevant objects in captured images used in this calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Vehicle Service Group, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Taylor, Gerry Lauderbaugh
  • Patent number: 11948828
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a pin-less substrate transfer apparatus and method for a processing chamber. The processing chamber includes a pedestal. The pedestal includes a pedestal plate. The pedestal plate has a radius, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The pedestal plate further includes a plurality of cut outs on a perimeter of the pedestal plate. Flat edges are disposed on opposite sides of the pedestal plate. Recesses are disposed in the bottom surface below each of the flat edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sultan Malik, Srinivas D. Nemani, Adib M. Khan, Qiwei Liang
  • Patent number: 11939170
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and computer program products for article retrieval are provided. An example article retrieval device includes a frame and a pair of loading arms movably attached to the frame that move between a retracted position and an extended position. The device includes an engagement structure movably attached to at least one of the pair of loading arms that moves between a stored position and a deployed position. The device further includes a sensing device coupled with the pair of loading arms and a computing device operably coupled with the pair of loading arms, the at least one engagement structure, and the sensing device. The computing device causes the pair of loading arms to extend from the retracted position to a position proximate a first article and deploys the at least one engagement structure based upon sensor data generated by the sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Turco, Jarl Nicholas Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11939157
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Robert Rolf Stadie
  • Patent number: 11935772
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate may include a wet chamber, a dry chamber, a first transfer robot and a shared shutter. The wet chamber may be configured to process the substrate using a chemical. The dry chamber may be adjacent the wet chamber and configured to dry the substrate processed by the wet chamber. The first transfer robot may be configured to transfer the substrate between the wet chamber and the dry chamber. The shared shutter may be between the wet chamber and the dry chamber. A connection opening through which the substrate may be transferred may be formed between the wet chamber and the dry chamber. The shared shutter may be configured to open and close the connection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seohyun Kim, Younghoo Kim, Sangjine Park, Kuntack Lee, Jihoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 11932052
    Abstract: Provided herein is a driving apparatus for transporting a loaded object, which allows a drive-wheel to always be in contact with the ground even when the ground is uneven. The driving apparatus includes a loading plate (140, 240) on which a loaded object is loaded, a first support (110, 210) connected to a lower portion of one side of the loading plate (140, 240), a second support (120, 220) connected to a lower portion of the other side of the loading plate (140, 240), a hinge (130, 230) configured to connect the first support (110, 210) to the second support (120, 220) in a hinge structure, at least a pair of drive-wheels (160, 260) coupled to both sides of a lower portion of the second support (120, 220), and a driver configured to rotate and drive the drive-wheels (160, 260).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MOTION DEVICE INC.
    Inventor: Jong Chan Lee
  • Patent number: 11932157
    Abstract: A ramp assembly for unloading goods from an elevated platform that includes a platform and a ramp that can be rotated or orbited around a perimeter of a platform without rotating the platform. The ramp assembly uses an orbiting assembly that includes a rail and a rider in order to permit easy placement of a lower end of a ramp relative to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Gene O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11932487
    Abstract: Provided are a handling robot (600) and a handling assembly (100) thereof, and the handling assembly (100) includes a base component (10), a handling arm component (20), a hook (31) and a driving component (40). The handling arm component (20) is slidably mounted to the base component (10), and may perform a reciprocating linear movement on the base component (10). The driving component (40) is connected with the handling arm component (20), for driving the handling arm component (20) and the hook (31) to perform a reciprocating linear movement. Through the above structure, the handling assembly (100) pulling and pushing the material box (500) is realized without extending into two sides of the material box (500), thereby saving working space of the handling assembly (100), enabling the material boxes (500) of the warehousing to be placed next to each other, and improving the storage density of the warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HAI ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qingxin Zhan, Zhe Kong, Yeguang Chen
  • Patent number: 11931839
    Abstract: A transfer machine: includes a frame, a table which is supported on the frame and can rotate with respect to the frame about a main vertical axis, and work holding assemblies mounted on the table. Each work holding assembly has at least one collet assembly for retaining a workpiece being machined. The collet assembly is able to rotate with respect to the table about a vertical workpiece rotation axis. The transfer machine includes at least one actuation motor in order to actuate rotationally the collet assembly and is provided with a driving shaft which can rotate about a respective driving axis. At least one transmission assembly can be activated selectively and is configured to transmit motion from the driving shaft to the collet assembly. At least one actuation motor is integral with the frame of the machine, with the respective driving shaft arranged horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MIKRON SA AGNO
    Inventors: Luciano Lagger, Luca Giacobazzi
  • Patent number: 11926043
    Abstract: In a robot (1) for gripping and/or holding objects (2), in particular workpieces, tools or carrier parts, the robot comprising: at least one robot arm (3, 4, 5) which is supported on a support frame (19) and is movable in space in at least one translational and/or rotational degree of freedom, a gripping and/or holding device (6), on which the respective object (2) is supported in a positionally oriented manner and/or held in a rotational arrangement, at least one electric motor (9) provided in the gripping and/or holding device (6), by means of which a torque and/or a clamping force is generated which acts on the object (2), and a drive shaft (24) mounted in the robot arm (5), which is coupled in a driving manner to the gripping and/or holding device (6), preferably in such a way that the gripping and/or holding device (6) rotates about its own longitudinal axis (6?), the gripping and/or holding device (6) arranged at the free end of the robot arm (5) should be freely movable in space, so that rotation a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SMW-Autoblok Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: 11926496
    Abstract: A system for managing shipping containers and twist lock connectors is described. The system includes multiple stations. Each station includes a container platform and a pallet station. The container platform is able to accommodate various container sizes and/or multiple containers at one time. The container platform includes connector changers, handlers, and gantries that are able to automatically engage connectors with a container and disengage connectors from a container. The station includes a shuttle able to transfer connectors between the platform handlers and pallet station handlers and gantries. The pallet station includes a pallet with multiple receptacles for storing connectors. The pallet station and/or the container platform may include one or more magazines and/or one or more conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventors: Steve Foldesi, William Hawke, Kyoung Shik Min
  • Patent number: 11926476
    Abstract: A transport vehicle includes: a vehicle body (31) and a first traveling mechanism (32) mounted on the vehicle body (31). The first traveling mechanism (32) includes a plurality of crawling assemblies (320) respectively provided on two opposite sides of the vehicle body (31). Each crawling assembly (320) includes: a wheel carrier (321) extending outwardly from a lateral side of the vehicle body (31); and a driving wheel (322) mounted on the wheel carrier (321), the driving wheel has an axis perpendicular to an extending direction of the wheel carrier (321). The wheel carrier (321) is rotatable about the central axis of the wheel carrier (321) in the extension direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING JINGDONG QIANSHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Zhang
  • Patent number: 11923217
    Abstract: An embodiment is a processing system for processing a substrate. The processing system includes a Front Opening Unified Pod (FOUP) load lock (FLL) and a vacuum system. The FLL has walls defining an interior space therein. The FLL includes load lock isolation and tunnel isolation doors. The load lock isolation door is operable to close a first opening in a first sidewall of the FLL. The first opening is sized so that a FOUP is capable of passing therethrough. The tunnel isolation door is operable to close a second opening in a second sidewall of the FLL. The second opening is sized so that a substrate is capable of passing therethrough. The vacuum system is fluidly connected to the interior space of the FLL and is operable to pump down a pressure of the interior space of the FLL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Newman
  • Patent number: 11919711
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes at least one relay module for relaying storage containers between a port column and an access station. The relay module is arranged below a port column. The relay module includes a port station, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, each arranged at a side of the port station, and a lateral displacement device. The port station arranged at a lower end of the port column receives storage containers dropped off from and to be picked up through the port column. The first conveyor is adapted to transport storage containers to an access station. The second conveyor is adapted for transporting storage containers from the access station. The lateral displacement device is coupled to the port station and is arranged to transport storage containers between the port station and the first conveyor, and between the second conveyor and the port station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventors: Ivar Fjeldheim, Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 11919729
    Abstract: An unloader for a shipping container includes a supporter having a frame structure and a pallet base supported by the frame structure and configured to receive the pallet and support the shipping container in an elevated position. A gate moving mechanism is supported by the pallet base and configured to engage the moveable gate assembly when the full shipping container is positioned onto the pallet base. A material director has a first end located beneath the pallet base subjacent of the gate moving mechanism. The material director extends downwardly from the pallet base and terminates at a second end opposite the first end. Bulk material is dispensed from the shipping container into the first end and is discharged from the second end of the material director. Shipping containers may be positioned onto and removed from the pallet base without disassembly of the unloader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SANDBOX ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventors: C. John Allegretti, Kevin Sylvester Corrigan, Margarito Guerrero, Felix Guerrero
  • Patent number: 11912498
    Abstract: A container handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes: a first set of wheels arranged at opposite portions of a vehicle body of the container handling vehicle, for moving the vehicle along a first direction on a rail system of the grid; and a second set of wheels arranged at opposite portions of the vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the rail system of the grid, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle body includes walls on all sides forming a footprint defined by horizontal peripheries in the X and Y directions of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventors: Ivar Fjeldheim, Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 11905112
    Abstract: A cradle and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of a refuse vehicle. The at least one track member is able to deflect horizontally to compensate for misalignment. At least one guide member is mounted to a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to limit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle during misalignment. The at least one track member returns to its original position to align the front loading forks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventor: Richard Ford
  • Patent number: 11904480
    Abstract: An automated gas supply system includes a gas cylinder transfer unit configured to transfer a cradle in which one or more gas cylinders storing a gas therein are stored; a gas cylinder inspection unit configured to check properties of the gas stored in the gas cylinder transferred from the gas cylinder transfer unit and check whether the gas leaks from the gas cylinder; a storage queue configured to receive the gas cylinder from the gas cylinder inspection unit by a mobile robot and configured to classify and store the transferred gas cylinders according to the properties of the gas stored in the gas cylinder; and a gas cabinet configured to receive the gas cylinder from the storage queue by the mobile robot and fasten a gas pipe, which is connected to a semiconductor manufacturing process line, to a gas spray nozzle, which is disposed at one side of the received gas cylinder, to supply the gas stored in the gas cylinder to the semiconductor manufacturing process line, wherein the gas cabinet includes a resid
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Sung Ha, Kwang-Jun Kim, Jong Kyu Kim, Hyun-Joong Kim, Jin Ho So, Chi-Gun An, Ki Moon Lee, Hui Gwan Lee, Beom Soo Hwang