Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Zerbe

Jeffrey Zerbe 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: 11862920
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a feeding device configured to index the connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes and a contact loading assembly loading contacts into the connector strip. The contact loading assembly includes a wire distribution unit and a wire feed unit having a feeding device configured to simultaneously index wires through feed tracks in successive feed strokes. The wire feed unit includes a wire guide assembly guiding the wires through the wire feed unit. The contact loading assembly includes a contact forming unit and a contact loading device loading the contacts made from the wires into the connector strip as the connector strip is advanced through the electrical connector assembling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions Gmbh
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Jeffrey Zerbe, Craig Roper, Edward T. Price, III, Albert W. Wolfgang, III
  • Publication number: 20230034277
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a feeding device configured to index the connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes and a contact loading assembly loading contacts into the connector strip. The contact loading assembly includes a wire distribution unit and a wire feed unit having a feeding device configured to simultaneously index wires through feed tracks in successive feed strokes. The wire feed unit includes a wire guide assembly guiding the wires through the wire feed unit. The contact loading assembly includes a contact forming unit and a contact loading device loading the contacts made from the wires into the connector strip as the connector strip is advanced through the electrical connector assembling machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Jeffrey Zerbe, Craig Roper, Edward T. Price, III, Albert W. Wolfgang, III
  • Patent number: 11545803
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip distribution unit including a reel cradle for holding a reel of the connector strip and a roller for rotating the reel of the connector strip to unwind the connector strip from the reel. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a feeding device configured to index the connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip notching unit including a notching device configured to cut notches in the connector strip at designated locations. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a contact loading unit loading contacts into the connector strip and an electrical connector separating unit for separating the electrical connector from the connector strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Craig Roper, Jeffrey Zerbe, Scott A. Day, Edward T. Price, III
  • Patent number: 11378520
    Abstract: A vision inspection system includes a platform supporting parts for inspection at an inspection zone, an inspection station positioned adjacent the platform at the inspection zone including an imaging device to image the parts in a field of view above the upper surface, and a vision inspection controller receiving images from the imaging device. The vision inspection controller includes an auto focus module for orienting the imaging device relative to the inspection zone. The auto focus module determines a working distance for the imaging device from the inspection zone. The auto focus module calculates an image contrast score of pixel values of the images at various working distances from the inspection zone. The vision inspection controller causes the inspection station to operate the imaging device at an imaging working distance corresponding to the working distance associated with the highest image contrast score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Sonny O. Osunkwo, Lei Zhou, Scott Day, Jeffrey Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20210318251
    Abstract: A vision inspection system includes a platform supporting parts for inspection at an inspection zone, an inspection station positioned adjacent the platform at the inspection zone including an imaging device to image the parts in a field of view above the upper surface, and a vision inspection controller receiving images from the imaging device. The vision inspection controller includes an auto focus module for orienting the imaging device relative to the inspection zone. The auto focus module determines a working distance for the imaging device from the inspection zone. The auto focus module calculates an image contrast score of pixel values of the images at various working distances from the inspection zone. The vision inspection controller causes the inspection station to operate the imaging device at an imaging working distance corresponding to the working distance associated with the highest image contrast score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Sonny O. Osunkwo, Lei Zhou, Scott Day, Jeffrey Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20210116923
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile vehicle includes an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), a platform assembly coupled to the AGV, and a collaborative manipulator mounted to a support plate of the platform assembly. A safety sensor is coupled to the collaborative manipulator and includes a first proximity sensor fixed relative to the support plate and a second proximity sensor coupled to the collaborative manipulator proximate to a gripper of the collaborative manipulator and movable with an arm of the collaborative manipulator. The safety sensor determines when the gripper is located at a home position proximate to the support plate by detecting the second proximity sensor in proximity to the first proximity sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Anthony L. Swann, Swapnilsinh Solanki, Kyle Mongold, Jeffrey Zerbe