Patents by Inventor Michael W. Norton

Michael W. Norton 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).

  • End effector with internal valve
    Patent number: 8864200
    Abstract: A bellows 10 is configured for connection to an end effector of a robot and includes a valve 28 supported in the interior space of the bellows. A flow of low pressure air is induced from inside the bellows into a vacuum plenum 24 for retrieving a work product by the open end 16 of the bellows. High pressure air is moved through a conduit 50 into the valve to terminate the flow of low pressure air and terminate the suction applied by the bellows to the work product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: AMF Automation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roland Lomerson, Jr., Michael W. Norton
  • End effector with internal valve
    Patent number: 8684434
    Abstract: A valve 28 is positioned in the upper portion of the interior space of the bellows 10. A flow of low pressure air is induced inside the bellows when the valve elements 40 move away from the air inlet openings 38. When high pressure air is moved into the central portion of the valve housing 30, the valve elements 40 tend to move radially outwardly to block the air passages 38 and 42, thereby terminating the suction applied to the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: AMF Automation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roland Lomerson, Jr., Michael W. Norton
  • End Effector with Internal Valve
    Publication number: 20130106126
    Abstract: A valve 28 is positioned in the upper portion of the interior space of the bellows 10. A flow of low pressure air is induced inside the bellows when the valve elements 40 move away from the air inlet openings 38. When high pressure air is moved into the central portion of the valve housing 30, the valve elements 40 tend to move radially outwardly to block the air passages 38 and 42, thereby terminating the suction applied to the bellows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: AMF Automation Technologies, LLC, d/b/a AMF Baker Systems
    Inventors: Roland Lomerson, JR., Michael W. Norton
  • End Effector with Internal Valve
    Publication number: 20130082474
    Abstract: A bellows 10 is configured for connection to an end effector of a robot and includes a valve 28 supported in the interior space of the bellows. A flow of low pressure air is induced from inside the bellows into a vacuum plenum 24 for retrieving a work product by the open end 16 of the bellows. High pressure air is moved through a conduit 50 into the valve to terminate the flow of low pressure air and terminate the suction applied by the bellows to the work product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: AMF Automation Technologies, LLC, d/b/a AMF Bakery Systems
    Inventors: Roland Lomerson, JR., Michael W. Norton