Patents by Inventor Brian E. Lane

Brian E. Lane 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).

  • Automatic tool changing machine
    Patent number: 6135933
    Abstract: The invention is a system for use in a single-anvil hydraulic press or compression system for automatically selecting and changing both the upper and lower tooling. The system is installed between the upper and lower compression anvils of a hydraulic press. The upper portion includes a set of holders for upper tools and adjacent orientation structures or jaws. The upper tool holders and jaws are mounted on a horizontal member that may be moved such that one of the upper tools is "selected" by being placed immediately below the upper anvil of the press. As part of this selection process, the anvil removes the tool from the selected holder, and holds it using pneumatic suction. Then the horizontal member shifts over so that the upper anvil is situated directly above the adjacent orientation structure for that tool. To switch to a different upper tool, the horizontal member again moves the (empty) holder below the upper anvil, whereupon the pneumatic suction is removed causing the tool to drop into the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Haeger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory T. Kelly, Brian E. Lane, Dennis W. McDaniel
  • Automatic tool changing machine
    Patent number: 6106446
    Abstract: The invention is a system for use in a single-anvil hydraulic press or compression system for automatically selecting and changing both the upper and lower tooling. The system is installed between the upper and lower compression anvils of a hydraulic press. The upper portion includes a set of holders for upper tools and adjacent orientation structures or jaws. The upper tool holders and jaws are mounted on a horizontal member that may be moved such that one of the upper tools is "selected" by being placed immediately below the upper anvil of the press. As part of this selection process, the anvil removes the tool from the selected holder, and holds it using pneumatic suction. Then the horizontal member shifts over so that the upper anvil is situated directly above the adjacent orientation structure for that tool. To switch to a different upper tool, the horizontal member again moves the (empty) holder below the upper anvil, whereupon the pneumatic suction is removed causing the tool to drop into the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Haeger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory T. Kelly, Brian E. Lane, Dennis W. McDaniel