Patents by Inventor Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE

Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE 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).

  • Publication number: 20240082998
    Abstract: A device is provided for the automated manufacture of screw connections. A jointed arm robot has an output element and an end link. The output element is arranged on the end link so as to be rotatable around an effector axis (wE). A screwdriving tool is rotatable around the effector axis (wE) by the output element. The device features at least one transmission operatively connected to the output element and the screwdriving tool, and transmits a speed between the output element and the screwdriving tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Shahriar Fakher, Frank Jagow, Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Thomas Albert Röbbecke
  • Patent number: 11926382
    Abstract: An assembly system is provided for automotive lamps and an operation method thereof. The assembly system includes two kinds of functional robots and many functional stations, and it uses the functional robots to transfer workpieces between the various functional stations to realize automatic gluing, fastening and whole lamp performance testing, etc., thereby reducing the amount of manual intervention and improving process integration. Further, the assembly system may provide an assembly system with a two-sided assembly line operating simultaneously, which greatly improves the working efficiency of thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Ludger-Josef Grüne, Ingo Engler, Thomas Albert Röbbecke, Jun Yue, Tao Hu, Wei Hu
  • Publication number: 20240051099
    Abstract: A method for producing a screw connection having a screw that is set in rotational motion with a screwdriving head of a screwdriving tool. The screwdriving head has a motor drive for creating the rotational motion of a screw receptacle of the screwdriving head. The screw is driven into at least one mating part of the screw connection in a rapid speed. A torque is detected with which the screw is driven. The rapid speed with a higher rotational speed is changed to a creep speed with a lower rotational speed at a changeover time. The changeover time is determined as a function of the detected torque during screwdriving at rapid speed. The screw is further driven at the creep speed until a head contact time when a head of the screw makes contact on the mating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ingo ENGLER, Ferdinand HELLE, Frank JAGOW, Odo KARGER, Sven KINKEL, Miguel LEBRATO-RASTROJO, Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE, Konrad SCHUERHOFF
  • Publication number: 20230356371
    Abstract: A device for automatically producing screw connections, having an articulated arm robot and a screwing unit which can be rotated about an effector axis by an output element of an end element of the articulated arm robot. The screwing unit has a housing, wherein a screwing tool is movably received in the housing along the effector axis between a feed position and at least one screwing position, and wherein a mouthpiece for providing a screw is arranged on the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ingo ENGLER, Miguel LEBRATO-RASTROJO, Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE, Frank JAGOW, Dirk ROKOSSA
  • Publication number: 20230294224
    Abstract: A device is provided for the automated production of screw connections, and includes an articulated robot with an output element and an end link. The output element is arranged on the end link so as to be rotatable around an effector axis (wE). A screwdriver tool is provided, and can be rotated around the effector axis (wE) by the output element. At least one gear may also be provided, where the gear has a direct operative connection to the output element and the screwdriver tool and is set up for transmission of a rotary speed between the output element and the screwdriver tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Ammann, Ingo Engler, Ludger-Josef Gruene, Frank Jagow, Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Matthias Mattenklotz, Thomas Albert Roebbecke
  • Publication number: 20230271332
    Abstract: An apparatus for the automated production of screw connections, having an articulated-arm robot and an effector, which is accommodated on an output element of an end member of the articulated-arm robot so as to be rotatable about an effector axis. The effector is in the form of a screwdriving tool, wherein the apparatus has a mouthpiece for providing a screw, the mouthpiece being accommodated on the end member by means of a linear guide and being movable along the effector axis between a feeding position and at least one screwing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ludger-Josef GRUENE, Frank JAGOW, Matthias MATTENKLOTZ, Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE
  • Patent number: 11707846
    Abstract: A first robot for handling at least one first workpiece in a first processing operation of the apparatus, a second robot cooperating with the first robot for processing the at least one first workpiece in the first processing operation, and at least one first workpiece holder for holding the at least one first workpiece during the first processing operation. In order to improve robot-assisted processing of workpieces which differ from one another, the first robot handles at least one second workpiece and the second robot processes the at least one second workpiece in a second processing operation of the apparatus. The first robot or the second robot in order, in a changeover operation of the apparatus, to replace the at least one first workpiece holder automatically by at least one second workpiece holder for holding the at least one second workpiece during the second processing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ludger-Josef Gruene, Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Thomas Albert Roebbecke, Jun Yue
  • Publication number: 20230017657
    Abstract: A lighting assembly is provided for a lighting device of a motor vehicle. The lighting assembly includes an objective module with at least one objective lens mounted in a lens holder. The objective module also includes at least two first pins. The lighting assembly further includes a light source module with at least one light source mounted on a heat sink element, and with at least two first cavities. The objective module and the light source module are joined by adhesive joints between the first pins and the first cavities. The lens holder further includes the first pins, and/or the heat sink element comprises the first cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Frank Brinkmeier, Heinz-Michael Dirks, Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Frank Passgang, Timo Puls, Thomas Albert Röbbecke, Frank Sohrweide, Christian Wieck, Thomas Wiese, Martin Wüller
  • Patent number: 11460063
    Abstract: A method for adhesively bonding components, in particular a lamp holder on a mounting, wherein the method includes at least the following steps: producing a load-bearing adhesive bond by means of introducing a slowly curing adhesive into or onto an adhesive receptacle between the components; arranging at least one light-transparent fixing element in physical contact with at least one of the components; adhesively bonding the fixing element to at least one of the components by means of introducing a fixing adhesive at fixing bonding points; transmitting light from a light source through the fixing element to cure the fixing adhesive at the fixing bonding points; and long-time curing of the slowly curing adhesive of the load-bearing adhesive bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Heinz-Michael Dirks, Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Thomas Albert Roebbecke, Simone Rohrberg, Christian Wieck
  • Publication number: 20220290829
    Abstract: A method is provided for joining a pin member of a first component to a second component with a cavity, using an adhesive, to fasten the pin in a target position extending at least partially into the cavity. A distance (D) is provided between the bottom surface of the cavity and the facing end of the pin. A flexible spacer is positioned on the bottom surface of the cavity. The thickness of the spacer equals or exceeds the distance (D) between the bottom surface of the cavity and the facing end of the pin in the target position. The adhesive is filled into the cavity onto the flexible spacer, and the pin is positioned in the target position. The adhesive is cured to obtain a joint between the pin and the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Frank Passgang, Thomas Albert Röbbecke, Sonja Seibt, Ulrich Temme, Jürgen Wessling, Christian Wieck, Martin Wüller
  • Publication number: 20210270302
    Abstract: A method for adhesively bonding components, in particular a lamp holder on a mounting, wherein the method includes at least the following steps: producing a load-bearing adhesive bond by means of introducing a slowly curing adhesive into or onto an adhesive receptacle between the components; arranging at least one light-transparent fixing element in physical contact with at least one of the components; adhesively bonding the fixing element to at least one of the components by means of introducing a fixing adhesive at fixing bonding points; transmitting light from a light source through the fixing element to cure the fixing adhesive at the fixing bonding points; and long-time curing of the slowly curing adhesive of the load-bearing adhesive bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Heinz-Michael DIRKS, Miguel LEBRATO-RASTROJO, Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE, Simone ROHRBERG, Christian WIECK
  • Publication number: 20210206441
    Abstract: An assembly system is provided for automotive lamps and an operation method thereof. The assembly system includes two kinds of functional robots and many functional stations, and it uses the functional robots to transfer workpieces between the various functional stations to realize automatic gluing, fastening and whole lamp performance testing, etc., thereby reducing the amount of manual intervention and improving process integration. Further, the assembly system may provide an assembly system with a two-sided assembly line operating simultaneously, which greatly improves the working efficiency of thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Ludger-Josef Grüne, Ingo Engler, Thomas Albert Röbbecke, Jun Yue, Tao Hu, Wei Hu
  • Publication number: 20210206440
    Abstract: An assembly system is provided for automotive lamps and an operation method thereof. In the invention, three kinds of function robots are responsible for the transmission work of the workpieces among various functional stations, which realizes automatic coating, fastening, and whole lamp performance testing, etc., and reduces the amount of manual intervention and improves the process integration. By setting a reasonable turnover area, the waiting time caused by the difference of transmission rate among processes is shortened. Meanwhile, the invention provides an assembly system with a bilateral assembly line operating simultaneously, which greatly improves the efficiency of the assembly system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Thomas Albert Röbbecke, Ingo Engler, Petri Chladek, Frantisek Jane, Jun Yue, Tao Hu, Wei Hu
  • Publication number: 20210197385
    Abstract: A first robot for handling at least one first workpiece in a first processing operation of the apparatus, a second robot cooperating with the first robot for processing the at least one first workpiece in the first processing operation, and at least one first workpiece holder for holding the at least one first workpiece during the first processing operation. In order to improve robot-assisted processing of workpieces which differ from one another, the first robot handles at least one second workpiece and the second robot processes the at least one second workpiece in a second processing operation of the apparatus. The first robot or the second robot in order, in a changeover operation of the apparatus, to replace the at least one first workpiece holder automatically by at least one second workpiece holder for holding the at least one second workpiece during the second processing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ludger-Josef GRUENE, Miguel LEBRATO-RASTROJO, Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE, Jun YUE
  • Publication number: 20210129336
    Abstract: A work apparatus for semi-automatically carrying out work steps, having a work bench, which has a worktop and a collaborative work area arranged above the worktop, in which work steps may be carried out manually and automatically, a robot being arranged beneath the worktop for carrying out the automatic work steps, and at least one opening being present in the worktop, through which the work area is accessible for the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Shahriar FAKHER, Miguel LEBRATO-RASTROJO, Thomas Albert ROEBBECKE
  • Publication number: 20200208810
    Abstract: A method is provided for mounting a light module. A light module that is mounted by means of such a method includes at least one light source for emitting light, and at least one optical element for forming the beam of light. The relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element is adjusted via the following steps. The light module is arranged in an adjusting device, and a light detection device is provided. The light source is switched on, and the light detection device is illuminated with the light. A set deviation between a value and an actual value of a light field generated with the light as compared to a required light field is measured. The relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element is then adjusted until the set/actual deviation is minimal or zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: David Duhme, Werner Kosters, Stefan Kraus, Thomas Albert Röbbecke, Ralf Seiger