Patents by Inventor Peter N. Newgard

Peter N. Newgard 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).

  • Variable position vacuum article pickup apparatus
    Patent number: 5033730
    Abstract: A vacuum article pickup apparatus is disclosed which is capable of picking up single articles such as pieces of mail or sheets of paper, from a random assortment of articles of varying sizes, shapes, weights, thicknesses, and porosities. The apparatus provides a vacuum gripper and a spacer which spaces the vacuum gripper from the articles. Provision is made for adjusting the height of the vacuum gripper and the spacer to compensate for differences in height of the random assortment of articles. Provision is also made for locking the vacuum gripper and the spacer at this height during the engagement of the uppermost article, and for withdrawing the spacer from contact with the random assortment of articles after the uppermost article has been engaged by the vacuum gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Karen R. Davies, Peter N. Newgard, Eric J. Shrader