Patents by Inventor Michael W. Dorsett

Michael W. Dorsett 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: 7997113
    Abstract: A hemming system and method is taught. The system and method employs tool platen assemblies comprising an anvil and one or more beam assemblies which are configured on the tool platen assembly and which tool platen assembly can be removed and replaced in the hemming system without the need for reconfiguration of the tool platen components. This allows for relatively rapid change over for the hemming system to hem different components. Further, the lift table of the hemming system includes a lift plate which moves the anvil through a predefined constant vertical stroke, but the start and end positions of that constant stroke length can be changed by inserting and removing a set of spacers from the anvil lift path. When the spacers are in the lift path, the lowered position and the raised position of the anvil are both higher than the corresponding lowered position and raised position when the spacers are removed from the lift path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dermody, Michael W. Dorsett
  • Publication number: 20080302161
    Abstract: A hemming system and method is taught. The system and method employs tool platen assemblies comprising an anvil and one or more beam assemblies which are configured on the tool platen assembly and which tool platen assembly can be removed and replaced in the hemming system without the need for reconfiguration of the tool platen components. This allows for relatively rapid change over for the hemming system to hem different components. Further, the lift table of the hemming system includes a lift plate which moves the anvil through a predefined constant vertical stroke, but the start and end positions of that constant stroke length can be changed by inserting and removing a set of spacers from the anvil lift path. When the spacers are in the lift path, the lowered position and the raised position of the anvil are both higher than the corresponding lowered position and raised position when the spacers are removed from the lift path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: THOMAS DERMODY, MICHAEL W. DORSETT
  • Patent number: 5495742
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for bending a flange into engagement with a workpiece. A bending tool is mounted on a tool holder connected to a stand by a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes a first link with its ends journalled on a pin on the tool holder and on a fixed pin on the stand, and a second link with its ends journalled on a pin on the tool holder and on a pin, the position of which in relation tot he stand can be adjusted. A first drive member pivots the first link about its fixed pin and a second drive member moves the adjustable pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: D. V. Automation Limited
    Inventor: Michael W. Dorsett
  • Patent number: 5050422
    Abstract: Apparatus for bending a margin flange (5) which projects at an angle to a surface of a workpiece (4) against that surface, includes a bending tool (6) which is mounted on a tool holder (7) which by a linkage system (8-13) is connected to a stand (1) which carries the workpiece (4). A drive arrangement (15-24) is connected to the tool holder (7) for movement of the tool holder in relation to the stand (1). The linkage system connecting the tool holder (7) with the stand (1) includes two mutually parallel carrier links (8, 11) each of which is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on a respective journal pin (9, 12) located on the tool holder (7). The other end of one carrier link (8) is pivotally mounted on a journal pin (10) which is fixedly mounted on the stand (1) and which also pivotally carries one end of a connecting link (14), the other end of which is pivotally connected to the other end of the other carrier link (11) by a pin (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Michael W. Dorsett
  • Patent number: 5038597
    Abstract: Apparatus for bending a margin flange (5), which projects at an angle to a surface on a workpiece (2), against the workpiece. The apparatus includes a bending tool (6) which is mounted on a tool holder (14) carried by a parallelogram mechanism (7-12) for movement in relation to a stand (1) on which the workpiece (2) is placed. A drive arrangement (17) is drivingly connected to the tool holder (14) by a linkage (21-27). The tool holder (14) includes a main part (13) connected to the parallelogram mechanism (7-12) and a movable part (15) which is pivotal about a journal pin (16) on the main part. The journal pin (16) is substantially parallel with the axes (7, 8, 11, 12) of the parallelogram mechanism. The movable part (15) carries the tool (6) and by a resilient element (32) is urged towards a starting position with a nose of the tool (6) biased away from the workpiece (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Michael W. Dorsett
  • Patent number: 5035136
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for bending a flange against a workpiece (3). A preliminary bending tool (5) on a first tool holder (7) is carried by a linkage mechanism (8-13) for movement in relation to a stand (1). A bend finishing tool (6) on a second tool holder (14) is carried by a parallelogram linkage mechanism (15-20) for movement in relation to the stand (1). The first linkage mechanism (8-13) forms a parallelogram having a line between the axes (10,11) of the links extending perpendicularly to a line between the axes (17,18) of the second linkage mechanism (15-20). One single drive member (21) is connected to the parallelogram linkage mechanism (15-20) to drive the second tool holder (14). A drive link (28) is connected between the parallelogram linkage mechanism (15-20) and the first tool holder (7) to drive this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Michael W. Dorsett