Patents by Inventor Daniel J. Spieker

Daniel J. Spieker 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).

  • Patent number: 11847298
    Abstract: Provided is an electric arc generation system comprising a robot, an electric arc torch attached to the robot, a power supply configured to provide an electrical power output to the torch, and a user interface for adjusting a plurality of power supply parameters. The user interface comprises a display. The system includes a processor configured to receive respective settings of the plurality of power supply parameters, and configured to analyze the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters and control the display to display a pictograph warning associated with a current parameter setting, based on a result of analyzing the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters. Said pictograph warning graphically indicates an adjustment direction for the current parameter setting. The processor is configured to automatically adjust one or more of the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters based on a predetermined operating angle of the torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Albright, Bruce J. Chantry, Levi J. Mitchell, Lance F. Guymon, Daniel J. Spieker
  • Publication number: 20230150131
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a robotic welding system for generating a motion program, having a programmable robot controller of a robot having a computer processor and a computer memory. The programmable robot controller is configured to digitally record, in the computer memory, a plurality of spatial points along an operator path in a 3D space taken by a calibrated tool center point (TCP) of the robot as an operator manually moves a robot arm of the robot along the operator path from a start point to a destination point within the 3D space. The programmable robot controller is also configured to identify and eliminate extraneous spatial points from the plurality of spatial points as digitally recorded, leaving a subset of the plurality of spatial points as digitally recorded, where the extraneous spatial points are a result of extraneous movements of the robot arm by the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Lance F. Guymon, Daniel J. Spieker, Jacob F. Aas, Levi J. Mitchell, Zachary J. Bennett
  • Patent number: 11067965
    Abstract: Embodiments of robotic systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robotic system includes a tool used in a manufacture process on a workpiece, and an arm having an attachment point. The arm moves the tool, in multiple degrees of freedom during the manufacture process. A robot controller controls movement of the arm based on motion parameters to perform the manufacture process via the tool. A path planner component generates the motion parameters used to perform the manufacture process while avoiding robot collision conflicts. The path planner component includes a reach configuration component including data related to physical attributes, motion attributes, kinematics, and limitations of the robotic system. The path planner component also includes a collision avoidance evaluator to, using the reach configuration component, determine if an anticipated robot path results in any robot collision conflicts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Spieker, Levi J. Mitchell, Khaled M. Ben-Gharbia
  • Publication number: 20200301568
    Abstract: Provided is an electric arc generation system comprising a robot, an electric arc torch attached to the robot, a power supply configured to provide an electrical power output to the torch, and a user interface for adjusting a plurality of power supply parameters. The user interface comprises a display. The system includes a processor configured to receive respective settings of the plurality of power supply parameters, and configured to analyze the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters and control the display to display a pictograph warning associated with a current parameter setting, based on a result of analyzing the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters. Said pictograph warning graphically indicates an adjustment direction for the current parameter setting. The processor is configured to automatically adjust one or more of the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters based on a predetermined operating angle of the torch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew A. Albright, Bruce J. Chantry, Levi J. Mitchell, Lance F. Guymon, Daniel J. Spieker
  • Patent number: 10747393
    Abstract: Provided is an electric arc generation system comprising a robot, an electric arc torch attached to the robot, a power supply configured to provide an electrical power output to the torch, and a user interface for adjusting a plurality of power supply parameters. The user interface comprises a display. The system includes a processor configured to receive respective settings of the plurality of power supply parameters, and configured to analyze the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters and control the display to display a pictograph warning associated with a current parameter setting, based on a result of analyzing the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters. Said pictograph warning graphically indicates an adjustment direction for the current parameter setting. The processor is configured to automatically adjust one or more of the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters based on a predetermined operating angle of the torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Albright, Bruce John Chantry, Levi J. Mitchell, Lance F. Guymon, Daniel J. Spieker
  • Patent number: 10599127
    Abstract: Embodiments for performing manufacture processes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a tool to be used in a manufacture process on a workpiece. The system includes a robot having an arm. The arm has an attachment point and is configured to move the tool, when attached to the attachment point, in multiple degrees of freedom during the manufacture process. A robot controller of the robot controls the movement of the arm based on motion parameters to perform the manufacture process via the tool. The system includes a power source having power electronics to generate electrical output power, based on electrical input parameters, provided to the tool during the manufacture process. A power source controller of the power source is configured to communicate with the robot controller, allowing a path planner component to generate the motion parameters used to perform the manufacture process while avoiding robot collision conflicts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Spieker, Levi J. Mitchell, Khaled M. Ben-Gharbia
  • Publication number: 20200064811
    Abstract: Embodiments of robotic systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robotic system includes a tool used in a manufacture process on a workpiece, and an arm having an attachment point. The arm moves the tool, in multiple degrees of freedom during the manufacture process. A robot controller controls movement of the arm based on motion parameters to perform the manufacture process via the tool. A path planner component generates the motion parameters used to perform the manufacture process while avoiding robot collision conflicts. The path planner component includes a reach configuration component including data related to physical attributes, motion attributes, kinematics, and limitations of the robotic system. The path planner component also includes a collision avoidance evaluator to, using the reach configuration component, determine if an anticipated robot path results in any robot collision conflicts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel J. Spieker, Levi J. Mitchell, Khaled M. Ben-Gharbia
  • Patent number: 10545480
    Abstract: Embodiments for performing manufacture processes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a tool to be used in a manufacture process on a workpiece. The system includes a robot having an arm. The arm has an attachment point and is configured to move the tool, when attached to the attachment point, in multiple degrees of freedom during the manufacture process. A robot controller of the robot controls the movement of the arm based on motion parameters to perform the manufacture process via the tool. The system includes a power source having power electronics to generate electrical output power, based on electrical input parameters, provided to the tool during the manufacture process. A power source controller of the power source is configured to communicate with the robot controller, allowing a path planner component to generate the motion parameters used to perform the manufacture process while avoiding robot collision conflicts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Spieker, Levi J. Mitchell, Khaled M. Ben-Gharbia
  • Publication number: 20190187665
    Abstract: Embodiments for performing manufacture processes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a tool to be used in a manufacture process on a workpiece. The system includes a robot having an arm. The arm has an attachment point and is configured to move the tool, when attached to the attachment point, in multiple degrees of freedom during the manufacture process. A robot controller of the robot controls the movement of the arm based on motion parameters to perform the manufacture process via the tool. The system includes a power source having power electronics to generate electrical output power, based on electrical input parameters, provided to the tool during the manufacture process. A power source controller of the power source is configured to communicate with the robot controller, allowing a path planner component to generate the motion parameters used to perform the manufacture process while avoiding robot collision conflicts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel J. Spieker, Levi J. Mitchell, Khaled M. Ben-Gharbia
  • Publication number: 20180129187
    Abstract: Embodiments for performing manufacture processes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a tool to be used in a manufacture process on a workpiece. The system includes a robot having an arm. The arm has an attachment point and is configured to move the tool, when attached to the attachment point, in multiple degrees of freedom during the manufacture process. A robot controller of the robot controls the movement of the arm based on motion parameters to perform the manufacture process via the tool. The system includes a power source having power electronics to generate electrical output power, based on electrical input parameters, provided to the tool during the manufacture process. A power source controller of the power source is configured to communicate with the robot controller, allowing a path planner component to generate the motion parameters used to perform the manufacture process while avoiding robot collision conflicts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel J. Spieker, Levi J. Mitchell, Khaled M. Ben-Gharbia
  • Publication number: 20180095640
    Abstract: Provided is an electric arc generation system comprising a robot, an electric arc torch attached to the robot, a power supply configured to provide an electrical power output to the torch, and a user interface for adjusting a plurality of power supply parameters. The user interface comprises a display. The system includes a processor configured to receive respective settings of the plurality of power supply parameters, and configured to analyze the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters and control the display to display a pictograph warning associated with a current parameter setting, based on a result of analyzing the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters. Said pictograph warning graphically indicates an adjustment direction for the current parameter setting. The processor is configured to automatically adjust one or more of the settings of the plurality of power supply parameters based on a predetermined operating angle of the torch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew A. Albright, Bruce John Chantry, Levi J. Mitchell, Lance F. Guymon, Daniel J. Spieker