Patents by Inventor Brian Keith Merritt

Brian Keith Merritt 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).

  • ARRAYED VACUUM END OF ARM TOOL
    Publication number: 20240100720
    Abstract: A vacuum head and corresponding method for moving product at the end of a robotic arm includes a housing having a product contact surface. An array of at least two rows and at least three ranks of valves are arranged with respect to the product contact surface. A solenoid is connected with respect to each of the valves to selectively activate air pressure in one or more valves thereby enabling multiple switchable zones on the product contact surface and thereby enable transfer of product between stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Merritt, Brett Alan Stripe