Patents Examined by William M. Hienz
  • Patent number: 5062761
    Abstract: A telescopic manipulation arm includes a module formed by two segments and a toggle joint. All movements of the toggle joint are transmitted across the module by identical mechanisms in such a way that the friction and inertia are the same for each movement. These mechanisms incorporate shafts positioned equidistantly of an axis in the lower segment and shafts positioned equidistantly of the axis in an upper segment. Shafts are provided for carrying identical pinions, which engage on identical toothed gears, and which are also engaged on substantially identical pinions rotatable with the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Euritech
    Inventor: Charles Glachet
  • Patent number: 5062755
    Abstract: A system for controlling x, y and z directional movement of a point adjacent to the free end of an arm composed of a plurality of interconnected articulated arm segments mounted for movement relative to at least three axes and providing for individual, independent control of movement of the point in any selected one of the x, y or z directions by controllably relatively adjusting the relationships between the segments. The system is particularly suitable for use in equipment when the arm incorporates a boom and stick such as backhoes or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: MacMillan Bloedel Limited
    Inventors: Peter D. Lawrence, Robert V. Ross
  • Patent number: 5052884
    Abstract: Transferring device for a semiconductor wafer or like part includes a rotatable carrying arm rotatably for carrying a semiconductor wafer or part from its initial position and through a first angle. The rotatable carrying arm has a holding portion for a wafer or part, and a cam follower portion. A motor rotates the rotatable carrying arm through an angle slightly greater than the first angle slightly past a desired position for the wafer. Then, an eccentric cam returns the carrying arm through a second, incremental angle, for bringing the carrying arm, and, hence, the wafer held thereby, to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Tokyo Aircraft Instrument Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazufumi Igari
  • Patent number: 5052519
    Abstract: The module is a prefabricated free-standing structure with a floor 9 of reinforced concrete and, secured to the floor, a unitary body of reinforced concrete comprising a roof 5 and side walls 4 integral with the roof. There is an unimpeded approach to the structure such that an automobile 15 can be parked alongside the side wall, and the structure includes an enclosed secure repository accessible through the side wall, such that a driver seated in the driver's seat of the automobile parked alongside the side wall can either deposit articles into the repository through the wall, or conduct a secure transaction such that a selected article or articles (such as a supply of cash) stored in the repository can be dispensed to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventor: Gareth Woodham
  • Patent number: 5051057
    Abstract: The present invention provides a simple latching assembly for a reversible stabilizer foot for a backhoe. The latching assembly comprises a bolt having a rounded head that is biased into contact with the side edge of the reversible shoe when it is in its first position. The bolt is mounted to the stabilizer leg and is provided with an elastic sleeve that acts as a spring driving the rounded head of the bolt towards the side edge of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Dennis A. Kremer
  • Patent number: 5044858
    Abstract: A lift vehicle for moving mine roof supports has a main drive section with a forward lift platform and a rearward articulated battery section. The articulating connection between the main section and the battery section has a clevis and pin assembly and a rotatable sleeve bearing connection. The sleeve bearing is rigidly connected to the clevis and pin assembly and rotatably connected to the battery section. The lift platform is rotatable about a horizontal axis to give it a tilting capability and is rotatable about a vertical axis to assume angled positions to either side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Simmons-Rand Company
    Inventors: Melvin E. Scott, Alfred D. McCue
  • Patent number: 5044847
    Abstract: A floor anchor pocket for mounting in a vehicle designed to carry wheelchairs or cargo is described. The pocket is provided with an internally located spring and a specially shaped cut-out so as to provide positive self locking for a tie down strap hook which is insertable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Queen's Univeristy at Kingston
    Inventors: Gerald A. B. Saunders, Henk W. Wevers, David Siu
  • Patent number: 5042635
    Abstract: A rapid coin acceptor is disclosed which is capable of discriminating valid coins or tokens from counterfeit coins or tokens and for accepting the valid coins or tokens as they fall by gravity through the device. The coin acceptor includes a coin introduction chute which receives coins or tokens and directs the coins by gravity feed to a coin sensing gate which is positioned in vertical registry below the bottom of the coin introduction chute. The coin sensing gate is equipped with a plurality of sensors to sense various parameters of the coin or token for authentication purposes as the coin or token drops through the coin sensing gate. The coin sensing gate is designed of height between one and one and one-half times the diameter of the coin to assure substantially instantaneous response to prevent the rapid insertion of a spurious coin from defeating the sensor control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Jani Supplies Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward H. Bell
  • Patent number: 5040940
    Abstract: The apparatus described measures the angle of rotation necessary to rotate a cable end from a first angular position, wherein the cores of the cable end have a certain position independent of their color, to a desired angular position, at a measuring station. The cable end is then brought into an aligning station where a rotational movement through the measured angle occurs. Subsequent to core color identification, the cable end is further turned, if required. There is provided for the scaning of the position of the cores a rotatable and axially slidably mounted scanning element which is coupled with an angle of rotation signal generator, which element contacts individual cores by means of scanning fingers or engages in the external intermediate spaces of the cores. During the scanning process the scanning element is disconnected from all drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Inventors: Helmut Kolodziej, Josef Schatterny
  • Patent number: 5039051
    Abstract: An equipment supporting device including a supporting member for rotatably supporting an equipment on its opposite sides through a horizontal pivotal axis; a pair of engaging shafts displaceably mounted directly or indirectly on the opposite sides of the equipment and normally biased outwardly; an operating portion mounted on the equipment and connected to the engaging shafts; a pair of small-diameter portions having a diameter smaller than that of the engaging shafts and extending outwardly from outer ends of the engaging shafts; a pair of guide grooves formed through opposite side portions of the supporting member for retaining the small-diameter portions in such a manner that the small-diameter portions can be moved in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof; a plurality of engaging recesses formed on opposite side edges of each of the guide grooves and arranged at given intervals, a couple of the engaging recesses being engaged with an outer circumference of each of the engaging shafts; and a pair of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Umebara, Hozumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5033794
    Abstract: A locking device for a hydraulically operated dump truck secures the lift cylinder against unwanted oscillation when the dump body is in the lowered travel position by securing the top of the cylinder to the doghouse of the dump body. The cylinder is connected to the bottom of the dump body for lift purposes and pivots away from the doghouse during lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Lanson Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry L. Vick
  • Patent number: 5030053
    Abstract: A bale handling apparatus for receiving, transporting, discharging, and feeding of large round bales of hay is provided. The apparatus includes an upwardly open semi-cylindrical cradle rotatably supported above a trailer frame on a scissor device attached to the trailer frame and an undercarriage slideably mounted on the trailer frame. A restraining bail is pivotally mounted to the top of the cradle for restraining the bale of hay as the cradle is rotated. A hitch mechanism is attached to the trailer for connecting the apparatus to a towing vehicle.As the invention moves in a rearward or forward direction the undercarriage slides along the frame causing the scissor to open and close, and thereby raising or lowering the cradle into engagement or disengagement with the underlying surface, causing rotation of the cradle for receiving, transporting, and discharging the bale of hay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Inventor: Albert L. Wickizer
  • Patent number: 5027937
    Abstract: A liquid diverting coin chute for conveying coins from a coin slot to a remotely positioned coin receptor includes a housing having sidewalls, front and rear walls, and top and bottom walls. The housing top wall includes an aperture for receiving coins from the coin slot. The housing bottom wall includes a first aperture for delivering coins to the coin receptor and a second aperture for dispensing liquid from the housing. A screen having front and back surfaces is disposed within the housing and extends from the housing top wall aperture to the housing bottom wall first aperture. The screen further extends between the housing sidewalls for conveying coins along the front surface thereof through the housing. The screen includes a plurality of apertures for passage of liquid therethrough to the bottom wall second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Mid-South Enterprises
    Inventors: Stanley G. Parish, Clarence D. Zierhut, Kelly K. Hand
  • Patent number: 5027936
    Abstract: A coin slide [10] is provided having an apparatus for rejecting magnetic coins and magnetic slugs and comprises a housing [11], a mounting flange [12] and a track [16]. A slide or carrier [21] is slidably received within the track [16] and has slots [23] for carrying coins standing vertically on edge along a horizontal coin path. A cylindrical permanent magnet [33] is positioned above the coin path for lifting magnetic coins and magnetic slugs at least partly out of the coin path to prevent the slide from carrying the coins farther along the coin path. An elongated cylindrical stop [34] provides a positive barrier against which magnetic coins and slugs which have been lifted by the magnet can engage to prevent further insertion of the slide [21].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Timothy E. Boyett
  • Patent number: 5028201
    Abstract: Apparatus for the transport of materials by elevating a stack of materials, moving a selected group of the materials and controllably lowering the materials to an upset position, from which the group is moved simultaneously to an output position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: William C. Hawthorne
  • Patent number: 5018922
    Abstract: A force feeling type master/slave manipulator detects a positional difference, a speed difference, and a force difference between the master and slave machines. The position difference and force difference are combined in a weighted manner and the output is used to drive an actuator on the control lever of the master machine to provide a force feeling feedback effect. The position difference is also combined in a weighted manner with the speed difference and the speed of the working machine to provide a sum value. The load force is subtracted from the sum value and the result is used to provide a signal for driving the actuator of the working machine. As a result, stable operation of the control lever is provided, natural vibration of the working machine is reduced and the working machine is stabilized against large inertial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshinada, Shu Takeda
  • Patent number: 5015148
    Abstract: A mounting frame for use with a tractor loader is disclosed wherein the main support arms extend generally linearly from the rear pivot mounting thereof with the tractor to the front pivot mounting with the loader bucket. The thickest portion of the main support arm is positioned immediately rearwardly of the transverse torque tube interconnecting the laterally spaced main support arms. Each main support arm decreases in size from this intermediate portion toward the forward and rearward pivots. The main support arm is generally symmetrical about a straight line interconnecting the forward and rearward pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell I. Johnson, Daniel D. Radke, Garry L. Ball
  • Patent number: 5007796
    Abstract: A system for handling workpieces comprises a carrier frame and a gripper device secured to the carrier frame and actuatable to grip a respective workpiece. The gripper device comprises a housing including a cylindrical housing member and a bearer head adjoining one end of the cylindrical housing member and carrying a gripper, and an operating device for the gripper arranged in the housing member. The handling system further comprises a bearing for the cylindrical housing member, which has a surface configuration designed to enable the housing member to fit the bearing and to be held thereby, and a coupling device cooperating with the bearing head and holding the bearing head non-rotatably with respect to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: Walter Sticht
  • Patent number: 5005669
    Abstract: A commodity data inputting device including a keyboard retained on a base which is pivotally connected with a mounting member. A plurality of engaging portions are formed at one of opposed side portions between the mounting member and the base, and are arranged along an arc defined about a pivotal axis of the base. An engaging bar is normally engaged with one of the engaging portions by a biasing force applied toward the pivotal axis. A retaining portion is formed at the other of the opposed side portions to retain the engaging bar at its opposite ends. A release lever normally abutting against the engaging bar is displaceable by a biasing force larger than the biasing force applied to the engaging bar. An operating portion for operating the release lever is connected thereto through a wire and a spring connected with the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Umebara, Takeshi Yagome
  • Patent number: 5004399
    Abstract: An end effector (10) is pivotally affixed to a robot arm (12) and comprises a platform (28) and a catcher (42). In operation, the end effector (10) picks up an integrated circuit slice (S), tilts the platform (28) away from the horizontal, causing the slice (S) to slide into an indexing surface (47) of the catcher (42). This places the slice (S) in a predetermined position relative to the robot arm (12) allowing for precise placement of the slice (S) at a workstation (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold W. Sullivan, Pat M. McConnell