Patents by Inventor Joachim Markert

Joachim Markert 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: 8528439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manipulator (1) comprising a plurality of members (12, 14) connected to each other by joints (A1-A6) that can be adjusted by drives (M1-M6), and a counterweight device (15) associated with one of the joints (A1-A6) and comprising a rod (19) coupled to a first member (12) connected to the joint (A1-A6) on one side and connected to a spring device (26) supported on a seat (25) on the other side, said seat being coupled to a second member (14) connected to the joint (A1-A6) by means of at least one bearing arrangement (18), comprising a first bearing component (17) and a second bearing component (16) connected to the second member (14). The seat (25) is connected to the first bearing component (17) by means of at least one cantilevered arm (23, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Markert
  • Patent number: 8219245
    Abstract: To increase the safety of an articulated arm robot with robot members connected by means of joints as open kinematics and with functional elements acting on the joints, such as drive motors, gears, brakes and a weight balance system, while reducing the mechanical limitations of the motion space of the robot, the present invention provides that at least some of the said functional elements have a dual design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kuka Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Günther Merk, Joachim Markert, Rainer Krumbacher
  • Publication number: 20110239806
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manipulator (1) comprising a plurality of members (12, 14) connected to each other by joints (A1-A6) that can be adjusted by drives (M1-M6), and a counterweight device (15) associated with one of the joints (A1-A6) and comprising a rod (19) coupled to a first member (12) connected to the joint (A1-A6) on one side and connected to a spring device (26) supported on a seat (25) on the other side, said seat being coupled to a second member (14) connected to the joint (A1-A6) by means of at least one bearing arrangement (18), comprising a first bearing component (17) and a second bearing component (16) connected to the second member (14). The seat (25) is connected to the first bearing component (17) by means of at least one cantilevered arm (23, 24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventor: Joachim Markert
  • Patent number: 7603927
    Abstract: An automatic manipulator, such as a multiaxial industrial robot, with a carrying component structure (support structure) for transmitting forces between individual members of the automatic manipulator. The entire support structure is formed from a material that is resistant with respect to external effects, such as moisture or the like. The material of the support structure may be, in particular, a material that is suitable for use in contact with foods, such as stainless steel, so that the automatic manipulator according to the present invention can be used reliably and without additional costly protective measures in environments in which there is a risk for contamination, such as in the food industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Markert, Günther Merk
  • Patent number: 7464622
    Abstract: A manipulator, such as a multiaxial industrial robot (1), particularly for use in contamination-endangered environments, including a plurality of scavenging areas (1.8a, 1.8b) to which a scavenging medium can be supplied and located in the vicinity of the drive unit of the manipulator. A plurality of groups of drive units has in each case its own scavenging area (1.8a, 1.8b) associated with it. A method is also provided for influencing at least one ambient condition, such as temperature, humidity, pressure, contamination and/or bacterial presence, in the vicinity of the drive units of a manipulator. This reliably ensures a safe operation of the inventive manipulator (1), even in areas with strict hygiene requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Markert, Günther Merk
  • Publication number: 20070265731
    Abstract: To increase the safety of an articulated arm robot with robot members connected by means of joints as open kinematics and with functional elements acting on the joints, such as drive motors, gears, brakes and a weight balance system, while reducing the mechanical limitations of the motion space of the robot, the present invention provides that at least some of the said functional elements have a dual design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Gunther Merk, Joachim Markert, Rainer Krumbacher
  • Publication number: 20050126327
    Abstract: A manipulator, such as a multiaxial industrial robot (1), particularly for use in contamination-endangered environments, is provided with a plurality of scavenging areas (1.8a, 1.8b) to which a scavenging medium can be supplied and located in the vicinity of the drive unit of the manipulator, characterized in that according to the invention a plurality of groups of drive units has in each case its own scavenging area (1.8a, 1.8b) associated with it. Thus, the invention creates a method for influencing at least one ambient condition, such as temperature, humidity, pressure, contamination and/or bacterial presence, in the vicinity of the drive units of a manipulator. This reliably ensures a safe operation of the inventive manipulator (1), even in areas with strict hygiene requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Joachim Markert, Gunther Merk
  • Publication number: 20050111940
    Abstract: A device (1) with at least two parts (2, 3) rotatable in relation to one another, such as a gear mechanism, especially for a multiaxial industrial robot, in which a seal (4) is arranged between the parts (2, 3) rotatable in relation to one another, is wherein at least one additional seal (5) is arranged between the parts (2, 3) rotatable in relation to one another. The device (1) thus has a sealing arrangement (4, 5), which reliably prevents both the entry of water and/or dirt into the device and the escape of potentially contaminating substances from the device into the environment. The device (1) can thus also be used in areas that are at risk for contamination, such as in the food-processing industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Joachim Markert, Gunther Merk
  • Publication number: 20050092122
    Abstract: An automatic manipulator, such as a multiaxial industrial robot, with a carrying component structure (support structure) for transmitting forces between individual members of the automatic manipulator. The entire support structure is formed from a material that is inert with respect to external effects, such as moisture or the like. The material of the support structure may be, in particular, a material that is suitable for use in contact with foods, such as stainless steel, so that the automatic manipulator according to the present invention can be used reliably and without additional costly protective measures in environments in which there is a risk for contamination, such as in the food industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Joachim Markert, Gunther Merk
  • Patent number: 6877392
    Abstract: In a gear, particularly for a robot, with a drive shaft and at least two parts rotatable relative thereto and to one another, in which a movement of one part is removable on its side remote from the other part, at least one of the rotary parts has a shaft connected in non-rotary manner thereto and which projects at least to the other part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Markert
  • Patent number: 6730394
    Abstract: On joining a fibre-reinforced plastic part, such as a plastic fibre-reinforced robot arm, to a functional element such as a gear, as a result of the flow characteristics of the plastic in the case of a high pressing action or high pressures, the joints are no longer stable or resistant and instead tend to loosen. To obviate this problem, the invention provides a fibre-reinforced plastic part, in which several metallic parts (6) engage through at least one fibre-reinforced shoulder (4). On one side of the shoulder or shoulders (4) is provided at least one metallic abutment (8) engaging over several metallic parts (6) and a functional element (2) is braced from the opposite side of the shoulder or shoulders (4) with the abutment (8) against the front ends (6a), facing the latter, of metallic parts (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Kuka Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Bayer, Wolfgang Bohlken, Joachim Markert
  • Publication number: 20030008124
    Abstract: On joining a fiber-reinforced plastic part, such as a plastic fiber-reinforced robot arm, to a functional element such as a gear, as a result of the flow characteristics of the plastic in the case of a high pressing action or high pressures, the joints are no longer stable or resistant and instead tend to loosen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Albert Bayer, Wolfgang Bohlken, Joachim Markert
  • Publication number: 20020007689
    Abstract: In a gear, particularly for a robot, with a drive shaft and at least two parts rotatable relative thereto and to one another, in which a movement of one part is removable on its side remote from the other part, at least one of the rotary parts has a shaft connected in non-rotary manner thereto and which projects at least to the other part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Joachim Markert
  • Publication number: 20010045808
    Abstract: A robot hand flange has an attached part for receiving an auxiliary device, such as a measuring body, a sensor, an additional or auxiliary tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Gerhard Hietmann, Gerd Rawiel, Joachim Markert
  • Patent number: 6016217
    Abstract: The invention refers to micro swivel actuators and a procedure for the manufacturing of the same. The micro swivel actuators consist basically of a semiconductor wafer equipped with three layers, which contains on the one hand individual mirrors with integrated springs and support elements as mechanical components and on the other hand electrodes, feeder lines and electrical contacts as electrical arrangements. The manufacturing of the micro swivel actuators utilizes procedure steps from the field of surface micromechanics, so that well-tried technologies are being applied. The micro swivel actuators, especially the micromechanical mirror arrays, are in particular suited for applications in the pictorial reproduction technique via laser beam. With these actuators, a laser beam can be directed by turning several parallel triggered individual mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: CMS Mikrosystene GmbH Chemnitz
    Inventors: Wolfram Dotzel, Thomas Gessner, Ramon Hahn, Christian Kaufmann, Heinz-Ulrich Lowe, Joachim Markert, Manfred Rauch, Udo Wollmann
  • Patent number: 5408355
    Abstract: There is disclosed a micromechanical transducer having only one moving or movable part (1) and a stator (2), the part (1) being movable in relation to the stator and in the form of a flat member which is connected by spring arrangements, such as springs (6), to the stator. The movable part is capable of three-dimensional movement to implement a deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Labor Dr. Hans Steinbichler
    Inventors: Manfred Rauch, Joachim Markert, Richard Kiehnscherf