Patents by Inventor Robert J. Heginbottom

Robert J. Heginbottom 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).

  • Method of managing tool travel in an assembly line operation
    Patent number: 7073241
    Abstract: A method of repositioning the pivot point of the assembly tool and using a tether assembly to limit the tool travel of the assembly tool in provide an assembly tool reduced travel envelope that only overlaps the position of the point-of-use of an in-station work-piece and does not overlap the position of the point-of-use of any out-of-station work-piece. The method includes the steps of: calculating and positioning the pivot point a horizontal offset distance from a conveyor reference point, calculating the reduced travel distance, and attaching the tether assembly to the flexible conduit of the assembly tool so as to limit the tool travel to the reduced travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Limitool, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Lewis, Robert J. Heginbottom