Patents Examined by Stephen A Vu
  • Patent number: 12690153
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a plurality of linkage arms connected one to another by one of a plurality of joints, wherein the plurality of linkage arms has a first end and a second end, and the first end is adapted to allow for removable attachment of a cold plate from a cooling assembly in a computer server, and a coupling that reversibly connects the second end of the plurality of linkage arms to a location on the cooling assembly, wherein the coupling is adapted to allow the plurality of linkage arms to be held in place at the location on the cooling assembly. The plurality of linkage arms are adapted to move along a predefined travel pathway and adapted to be reversibly converted between at least a lowered configuration and a service configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Madhana Sunder, Donald W. Porter, Francis R. Krug, Jr., Milnes P. David, Jeffrey Allen Zitz
  • Patent number: 12680294
    Abstract: A system and method for rigging and lifting a joined, multi-section assembly of corrugated decking sections for attachment to a Cold-Form Steel. The system and method provide for the utilization of an adaptable rig that securely attaches to a multi-section assembly of corrugated decking sections which have be pre-joined by workers in a safe, preferably terrestrial, workspace. The adaptability of the rig enables it to provide attachment points for lifting and supporting the multi-sectioned decking assemblies of disparate sizes and materials. The location and number of these attachment points being a function of the size, gauge, area and aggregate weight of a given pre-joined multi-section assembly. The system and method are can be utilized with pre-joined multi-section assemblies consisting of individual decking sections fabricated from a variety of materials, including ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, as well as composite materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Klover SEPA, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Daniel Hoff
  • Patent number: 12673435
    Abstract: A gripping tool, which can be used by a manipulator device for picking-up and handling pieces, includes a plurality of gripping devices (50), distributed in groups, each group consisting of one or more gripping devices. The gripping devices (50) of each group of gripping devices are mounted on a same supporting body (P), which is made in one-piece by an additive manufacturing technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: Comau S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cecili, Fabrizio Girardin, Constantino Pischedda, Luca Piras
  • Patent number: 12667982
    Abstract: A system for lifting a deformable object includes a support structure, two pairs of opposing arms coupled to the support structure, and a fluid power driver operatively coupled in parallel to the pairs of opposing arms via a fluid power system. Each of the arms includes inclined surfaces configured to contact the deformable object. When the support structure is positioned above the deformable object on the surface, the fluid power driver is configured to increase pressure in the fluid power system until the pressure in the fluid power system reaches a predetermined level such that (i) each of the pairs of opposing arms independently closes a distance until the inclined surfaces are in contact with sides of the deformable object, and (ii) the pairs of opposing arms exert a compressive force on the deformable object that causes the deformable object to slide up one or more of the inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Keith Powell, Roger Jeffrey Anderson
  • Patent number: 12667978
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding and discharging drums (6) comprises an interface device comprising an open cylindrical tubular element (2) with its opposite ends (2a, 2b) closed by respective diaphragm closures (3, 4) having a respective first portion (3a, 4a) firmly fixed to said cylindrical tubular element (2) by quick-release fixation means (8) through changes in internal pneumatic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: CSV Life Science Group S.r.l.
    Inventor: Luca Vietri
  • Patent number: 12662334
    Abstract: A method for preparation of a magnetic liquid metal includes: 1) placing A parts by weight of a liquid metal in a container; 2) placing B parts by weight of a metal powder in the container; 3) adding an acidic solution into the container until the liquid metal and the metal powder are submerged; 4) stirring until the liquid metal and the metal powder are sufficiently mixed; and 5) adding water for cleaning the acidic solution, to obtain the magnetic liquid metal by removing the acidic solution. The viscosity and stiffness of the prepared magnetic liquid metal can quickly respond to the stimulus from an applied magnetic field, and a reversible change from liquid to semisolid or solid exists. With a change in magnetic field strengths, the Young's modulus can be regulated in a range from the level of kPa to the level of MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: SUZHOU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiangpeng Li, Jiangxia Zhou, Kaiwei Wang, Mingkui Zhang, Yue Chen, Lining Sun
  • Patent number: 12661806
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gripper and a method for moving piece goods. The gripper has a deposit table extending in first and second directions and a gripping assembly guide arrangement having a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly has a unilaterally flexible chain including a bending limitation device, a first end remote from the gripping assembly guide arrangement and a second end close to the gripping assembly guide arrangement. The unilaterally flexible chain is moved and is deflected by a deflection device in an articulation direction at an angle of between 70-110° to the first direction. The unilaterally flexible chain is arranged in such a way that pushing forces are transmitted to a piece good, and the unilaterally flexible chain has an alignment device which, in the non-articulated state, holds the chain links in a mutually non-pivoted, stretched alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Dietmar Gross, Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 12654337
    Abstract: In one aspect, provided is a robotic end effector, comprising a palm; a plurality of robotic fingers that are operatively connected to the palm, each finger comprising: a finger base having a proximal end portion that is operatively connected to the palm and an opposing, distal end portion; and a suction cup, wherein each of the plurality of fingers is operatively connected to the palm at the proximal end portion and is configured to be rotatable and/or movable relative to the palm, and wherein the suction cup is configured to be movable about a pivot of the distal end portion. Other example embodiments are described herein. In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides a versatile, multi-modal robotic end effector for grasping with enhanced picks per hour (PPH).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: HONG KONG CENTRE FOR LOGISTICS ROBOTICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Yunhui Liu, Jianshu Zhou, Hanwen Cao, YiChuan Li, Tsz Fung Au
  • Patent number: 12643771
    Abstract: A hanging device includes an accommodation main body, a sliding assembly, a hook, and the accommodation main body that includes two parallel sidewalls, in which a first vertical path is defined between the two sidewalls. The sliding assembly is movably connected between the two sidewalls to move relative to the main body along the first vertical path. The sliding assembly further includes a sliding rail which defines a second vertical path, and the hook is movably connected to the sliding rail to move relative to the sliding assembly along the second vertical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chen-Hsiu Lee, Chih-Jui Chen, Chia-Hsing Chen, Chiu-Chin Chang, Kuan-Lung Wu, Li-Hsiu Chen, Wen-Yin Tsai
  • Patent number: 12643220
    Abstract: A robotic arm system comprising a deployment system or a base, a first joint, and a manipulator coupled to the deployment system or base at the first joint and movable relative to the deployment link or base about the first joint. The manipulator includes a manipulator link, a second joint coupled to the manipulator link distal from the first joint, an elevation linkage coupled to the manipulator link at the second joint, a wrist coupled to the elevation linkage distal from the second joint, and an end effector coupled to the wrist. The end effector can change elevation via the elevation link without changing orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Elevate Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Aaron Resh, Michael Sanford Boudreaux, Daniel Stephen Mitchell, Joshua Alexander James, Steven David Riddle, Orion Hubert Campbell, IV, Jonas Alexan Fox, Nicholas Arden Paine
  • Patent number: 12629849
    Abstract: A robotic system for grasping an object including a set of movable robotic fingers that may be in the form of a fin gripper or other moldable robotic finger similarly formed. The robotic fingers include a mechanism that is embedded in one or both of the fingers that allows the fingers to more firmly grasp an object. Further, an actuator may move the mechanism to further grip an object and perform an action on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Beaulieu, Alexander Alspach
  • Patent number: 12623360
    Abstract: A grasping device of the embodiment includes claw holding parts, a cam, pins, a motor, and a rail holding part. The claw holding parts are supported by rails in a slidable manner. The cam includes grooves or curved holes having a spiral shape provided around the rotation center and a hole provided at the rotation center. The pins each have one end engaged with the claw holding parts side and the other end engaged with the grooves or the curved holes of the cam. The motor includes a shaft to be fixed to the hole of the cam. The rail holding part is configured to hold the rails and engage a positioning jig with an end portion of the shaft at the side fixed to the cam and including a hole part with an inner peripheral surface where the outer peripheral surface of the jig is contactable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventors: Shotaro Miyawaki, Yukimasa Funasugi, Chizumi Moteki, Shinichi Narita
  • Patent number: 12616888
    Abstract: A disc golf disc retrieval device that is simple to operate and allows a disc golf disc player or user to conveniently, quickly, and efficiently to engage with and retrieve a disc golf disc in hard to reach or unreachable places that can reduce downtime during a disc golf game, among other uses and advantages. Here, the disc golf disc retrieval device can include a retrieval head, a plurality of flexible post members extending from the retrieval head, wherein each of the flexible post member comprise a suction cup, and wherein the suction cup is configured to enable engagement of a disc golf disc thereto. The device can further include a telescoping pole member and a securement member configured to secure the retrieval head to the telescoping pole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2025
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Inventor: Shawn Hammond
  • Patent number: 12618211
    Abstract: An apparatus for collection and removal of animal waste is disclosed. The collection apparatus may have a plurality of panels connected with one another by a plurality of hinges. The plurality of panels of the collection apparatus may be manipulated by a user to move the collection apparatus from a collapsed position to an expanded position. In the expanded position, a bag may line the interior of the plurality of panels to collect the animal waste. A user can then manipulate the animal waste into the bag lining the collection apparatus. The bag containing the animal waste may then be secured to the collection apparatus by way of panel clip for later disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Tanjman Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Gary M. Tatangelo
  • Patent number: 12622216
    Abstract: In a wafer hand, two carry portions are arranged in line in a first direction, the two carry portions are connected via a joint portion, each of the two carry portions extends from the joint portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, an interval between inner side surfaces of the two carry portions is 170 mm or more, an interval between outer side surfaces of the two carry portions is 280 mm or less, and when a distance between inner side surfaces of the two carry portions is A (mm), and a length of the inner side surfaces of the two carry portions in the second direction is L (mm), a relationship of L?(3002?A2)0.5 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Takeda, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 12617105
    Abstract: Robotic systems and methods are provided with an end effector having lockable compliance. A robotic system for manipulating a workpiece includes an arm having a pair of sections connected by a joint assembly, with a lock disposed in the joint assembly. A gripper is connected on the arm and is configured to alternately grip and release the workpiece. A controller operates the lock to alternately lock and unlock the joint assembly. The gripper holds the workpiece during a deformation of the workpiece, while the controller may unlock the lock to allow movement of the joint assembly to relieve forces on the arm arising during a deformation of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Lee Solomon, Hui-ping Wang, Lu Huang, Dalong Gao, Dohyun Leem
  • Patent number: 12610783
    Abstract: An apparatus transfers a substrate. The apparatus includes: one substrate holder adsorbing and holding the substrate via an adsorption port; a nozzle being provided on a surface of the one substrate holder and allowing gas to pass therethrough; an adsorption flow path being connected to the adsorption port and allowing gas to flow therethrough; and a nozzle flow path being connected to the nozzle and allowing the gas to flow therethrough. The adsorption flow path of at least one of the one substrate holder and another substrate holder and the nozzle flow path are connected to a common gas suction mechanism. A pressure sensor and flow rate sensor are provided for the nozzle flow path. The flow rate of the nozzle flow path is varied according to a distance between an interferer and the one substrate holder and the pressure of the nozzle flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryo Araki, Junnosuke Maki, Mitsuteru Yano, Masato Hayashi
  • Patent number: 12605851
    Abstract: A robot end effector is contemplated. The robot end effector comprises a first deformable gripper, a second deformable gripper coupled to the first deformable gripper by a linkage, and an actuator coupled to the linkage and operable to move at least one of the first deformable gripper and the second deformable gripper to a position defining an angle between the first deformable gripper and the second deformable gripper that is greater than or equal to 130 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Alspach, Andrew M. Beaulieu, Brendan Hathaway, Naveen Suresh Kuppuswamy, Aimee S. Goncalves
  • Patent number: 12600026
    Abstract: A magnetic cleaning device includes a handle unit, a main unit, and a deforming mechanism. The main unit includes a housing and a magnetic member. The deforming mechanism is connected between the handle unit and the main unit. The housing defines an accommodating space extending along an axis. The magnetic member is disposed in the accommodating space, and is movable along the axis between an attraction position, where the magnetic member is adjacent to an end of the housing, and a non-attraction position, where the magnetic member is away from the end of the housing. The main unit is movable relative to the handle unit via operation of the deforming mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Inventor: Hsuan-Sen Shiao
  • Patent number: 12594678
    Abstract: A device for gripping an object includes a base element and at least two gripping arms held on the base element. The at least two gripping arms are movable relative to one another and the base element into a configuration suitable for gripping and picking up the object. Preferably at least three gripping arms are provided, with each arm being able to move independently of one another relative to the base element, and a sensor such as a camera provides signals to electronics which can determine the position of the at least three gripping arms and control movement of the gripping arms into position to grip and pick up the object. A method for gripping and picking up an object using the gripping device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Auer, Claus-Peter Baumann, Alois Dobler, Martin Endres, Reinhold Hackl, Franz Korber, Martin Kuhn, Maximilian Rainer, Markus Sieber, Franz Stockner, Stefan Weinmann