Patents by Inventor Andrew R. Black
Andrew R. Black has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11963691Abstract: A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Ryan M. Asher, Brian D. Black, John E. Brady, Joseph Dennis, Geni M. Giannotti, Bryce L. Heitman, Timothy S. Holland, Joseph E. Hollo, Andrew Kolpitcke, Amy M. Krumm, Jason R. Lesko, Matthew C. Miller, David A. Monroe, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Matthew S. Schneider, Richard C. Smith, Shawn C. Snyder, Sarah A. Worthington, Monica L. Rivard, Fajian Zhang
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Publication number: 20120316722Abstract: An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) system for automatically transporting loads along a predetermined path is provided. The improvement includes a plurality of embedded magnets distant from one another, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of embedded magnets represent a positioning point and a plurality of AGVs, wherein at least one of the plurality of AGVs includes a drive assembly and a sensor system having a plurality of sensors, the sensor system configured for guidance of the AGV based upon simultaneous reading of the embedded magnets under the plurality of sensors, such that a position of the AGV with respect to the sensors can be repeatedly determined with respect to magnetic field peaks of the embedded magnets, and fine positioning markers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Michael D. Olinger, Andrew R. Black, Matthew L. Werner
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Patent number: 7568572Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Dematic Corp.Inventors: David W Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 7284652Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2005Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 7086519Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Dematic Corp.Inventors: Frank W Veit, David W Zeitler, Rhonda J Verploegen, Andrew R Black, Charles W Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6951274Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6866136Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6814216Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Publication number: 20040159526Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2004Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Publication number: 20020185358Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Publication number: 20020096417Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6345217Abstract: An automated guided vehicle system and method includes providing at least one automated-guided vehicle (AGV) and a pathway for the AGV. A sensor assembly on the AGV senses magnet assemblies on the pathway as the AGV is transported over that magnet assembly. A navigation and guidance system determines the location of the maximum magnitude of the magnetic field by mathematically fitting a curve to the magnitude of portions of the magnetic field sensed by said magnetic sensors and determines a maximum value of the curve. At least some of the said magnet assemblies each produce a bipolar magnetic field extending generally transverse to the pathway and the sensor assembly produces an output indicative of magnitude and polarity of respective portions of the bipolar magnetic field. The navigation and guidance system determines a location of maximum magnitude of the opposite polarities of the bipolar magnetic field and a correction factor.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko