Patents by Inventor Brian Jay Bethke

Brian Jay Bethke 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).

  • System and method for separating double blanks
    Patent number: 6652217
    Abstract: The device and method prevents a robot from carrying two blanks stuck together i.e., a double blank, from being transported storage station to a workstation. Suction cups on the robot arm grip the blank. The robot transports the blank to a double blank separation station, which has suction cups facing the opposite side of the blank. If the blank is a double blank, the opposing force from the suction cups pulls the blanks apart. The robot carries the separated single blank to the workstation. Instead of returning to the storage station to obtain another blank, the robot returns to the double blank separation station to pick up the separated blank that remained there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Robotics (USA), Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Prentiss Dettman, Brian Jay Bethke
  • System and method for separating double blanks
    Publication number: 20020185806
    Abstract: The device and method prevents a robot from carrying two blanks stuck together i.e., a double blank, from being transported storage station to a workstation. Suction cups on the robot arm grip the blank. The robot transports the blank to a double blank separation station, which has suction cups facing the opposite side of the blank. If the blank is a double blank, the opposing force from the suction cups pulls the blanks apart. The robot carries the separated single blank to the workstation. Instead of returning to the storage station to obtain another blank, the robot returns to the double blank separation station to pick up the separated blank that remained there.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Prentiss Dettman, Brian Jay Bethke