Patents Issued in May 2, 2017
  • Patent number: 9636783
    Abstract: A method includes cutting a semiconductor wafer on a substrate wafer using at least one laser. By setting the laser to a set of parameters that define a laser beam, the laser beam can avoid ablation of the substrate wafer. The laser beam is also set equal to, or within, an ablation threshold of the semiconductor wafer for selectively ablating the semiconductor wafer. The set of parameters includes wavelength, pulse width and pulse frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Russell A. Budd, Bing Dang, John U. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 9636784
    Abstract: A solder paste consists of an amount of a first solder alloy powder between 44 wt % to less than 60 wt %; an amount of a second solder alloy powder between greater than 0 wt % and 48 wt %; and a flux; wherein the first solder alloy powder comprises a first solder alloy that has a solidus temperature above 260° C.; and wherein the second solder alloy powder comprises a second solder alloy that has a solidus temperature that is less than 250° C. In another implementation, the solder paste consists of an amount of a first solder alloy powder between 44 wt % and 87 wt %; an amount of a second solder alloy powder between 13 wt % and 48 wt %; and flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Indium Corporation
    Inventors: Hongwen Zhang, Ning-Cheng Lee
  • Patent number: 9636785
    Abstract: The invention described herein generally pertains to locking mechanisms for levers operable to mount a tractor unit to a guide track and to engage a drive gear of the tractor unit to a track gear of the guide track. The levers for mounting the tractor unit and/or to engage the drive gear are lockable in a closed position. The closed position relates to a state of the levers when the tractor unit is mounted on the guide track or when the drive gear is engaged with the track gear. The levers can be easily operable to mount/dismount or engage/disengage, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Dean Traver, Jamil Snead
  • Patent number: 9636786
    Abstract: The present invention will improve the efficiency of setting up a modular welding table by reducing the time it takes to properly aligning the plates on top of the frames, thanks to the design features of a tapered flange and a cylindrical protrusion as described and disclosed herein. Another advantage of implementing the design disclosed herein is that the plates can have double its useful life, if one side's surface get worn out, the plates can be flipped over and use the other side's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Gary Tsui
  • Patent number: 9636787
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical clamp useful for repairing localized damage in the wall of an enclosure such as a pressure vessel. The mechanical clamp is an apparatus having a cap having a convex side and a concave side wherein the concave side is adapted for positioning adjacent the wall of the enclosure. The apparatus further includes at least one rod attached securely in the cap for passing through at least one hole in the wall of the enclosure wherein each rod has a first end attached securely in the cap and a second end and each rod is threaded along a portion of the rod including the second end. The apparatus further includes a nut for attaching to the second end of each rod for securing the cap in place adjacent to the wall of the enclosure. Methods for applying the mechanical clamp are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: Jaan Taagepera
  • Patent number: 9636788
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a shrink-fit chuck, having a cooling attachment that can be placed on the shrink-fit chuck and contains a plurality of feed openings for supplying a coolant into an interior of the cooling attachment. Connected to the cooling attachment are a device for feeding a liquid coolant into the interior of the cooling attachment and a suction-extraction device for the suction-extraction of the liquid coolant used for cooling the shrink-fit chuck from the interior of the cooling attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Franz Haimer Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer
  • Patent number: 9636789
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods adapted to displace turbomachine components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments, a method of displacing a turbine bucket from a turbomachine wheel slot using a displacement apparatus, includes: detachably engaging an engagement arm of the displacement apparatus to the turbine bucket, the engagement arm attached to a linear actuator coupled to a body of the displacement apparatus, and the engagement arm adapted to be actuated in a first axial direction by the linear actuator; contacting the turbomachine wheel with at least two contacting portions of the body of the displacement apparatus; and displacing the turbine bucket from a position within a slot of the turbomachine wheel in the first axial direction by linearly actuating the engagement arm with the linear actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9636790
    Abstract: There are provided a metal product having an internal space formed therein, allowing for improvements in the flow of a coolant in the internal space, such as a cooling channel and an increase in cooling efficiency, and a method of manufacturing thereof. The metal product includes a body part having a first space formed therein; a space formation member having a second space formed therein, mounted on the body part to be communicated with the first space; and a finishing part forming an exterior by covering the space formation member in a state in which the space formation member is mounted on the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: INSSTEK, INC.
    Inventor: Jeong-Hun Suh
  • Patent number: 9636791
    Abstract: A setting device for setting an axial position of a rotatable component having a base member, adapted to be arranged in an axially fixed manner, and at least two separate setting members, mechanically movable relative to the base member, each of which is arranged to provide a respective substantially axial movement transferrable to a respective portion of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ETP TRANSMISSION AB
    Inventors: Jens Soderlund, Conny Johansson, Thomas Nyman
  • Patent number: 9636792
    Abstract: A handheld work apparatus has a drive motor for driving a tool, an operating element for operating the drive motor, a first inhibiting unit and a second inhibiting unit. Each inhibiting unit has a disable state and an enable state. The operating element is inhibited for operating the drive motor when at least one of the inhibiting units is in its disable state. The work apparatus further has a locking device which locks the first inhibiting unit in its enable state if the second inhibiting unit is in its enable state. A method for operating the work apparatus provides that the first inhibiting unit is locked in its enable state when the first inhibiting unit and the second inhibiting unit are situated in their enable states at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Mandalka, Georg Heinzelmann, Klaus Kaupp
  • Patent number: 9636793
    Abstract: Fixturing elements for positioning components on a work surface with a fixed or variable pitch are disclosed. The fixturing elements include a bottom portion adapted to be coupled directly or indirectly to the work surface and a top portion with a generally horizontally-extending slot or track. An insert is adapted to be positioned within the slot or track, which allows the insert to be slid or positioned at any number of positions along the slot or track. The insert may, for example, include a vertically-extending pin or a threaded hole that is adapted to receive other components. In some embodiments, the fixturing element may include an exterior side slot that opens into the slot or track, and a handle element may be inserted through the side slot and into the insert, allowing the inserted to be positioned using the handle element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: John Morgan
  • Patent number: 9636794
    Abstract: The machine tool 1 for machining a hole 3a of a desired size in a workpiece 3, includes: a main shaft 30 holding a tool 2; a spindle unit 40 including a spindle 41 which holds the shaft 30 rotatably on the axis r of rotation, and a housing 42 which covers the periphery of the spindle 41; a drive unit 50 for holding the unit 40 tiltably with respect to the workpiece 3 held by a holder 20, and for moving the unit 40 relative to the workpiece 3; a mount 70 extending from the housing 42 toward the periphery of the shaft 30; and a control section 90 which, based on the results of measurement by distance measurement sensors 82 held by the mount 70, controls the unit 50 so as to correct the inclination of the shaft 30 with respect to the workpiece 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Masahiro Uekita
  • Patent number: 9636795
    Abstract: A controller 240 that gives an instruction of edging a spectacle lens, to a lens edger based on frame shape data outputted from a spectacle frame measuring machine, includes: recognition parts 240a, 240b that recognize a positional relation between a groove shape of the spectacle frame whose frame shape data is measured, and a measurement reference point being a reference when measuring the frame shape data, and a positional relation between a beveling instruction reference point being a reference when a beveling instruction is given to the lens edger and a bevel shape obtained by the beveling; and a beveling amount correcting part 240d that corrects a beveling amount when giving an instruction of beveling to the lens edger based on each positional relation recognized by the recognition parts 240a, 240b, so that the bevel shape is fitted into the groove shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9636796
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated polishing pad of the present invention, comprising the steps of: forming a polishing layer by providing a light transmitting region in an opening A of a polishing region; providing an adhesive member X on one side of the polishing layer, wherein the adhesive member X contains a hot-melt adhesive; providing a removable protective member on a part of the adhesive member X corresponding to the light transmitting region; bonding a support layer to the adhesive member X on which the removable protective member is provided; and removing a part of the support layer corresponding to the light transmitting region and also removing the removable protective member to form an opening B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM AND HAAS ELECTRONIC MATERIALS CMP HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9636797
    Abstract: Among other things, a method of controlling polishing during a polishing process is described. The method includes receiving a measurement of a thickness, thick(t), of a conductive layer of a substrate undergoing polishing from an in-situ monitoring system at a time t; receiving a measured temperature, T(t), associated with the conductive layer at the time t; calculating resistivity ?T of the conductive layer at the measured temperature T(t); adjusting the measurement of the thickness using the calculated resistivity ?T to generate an adjusted measured thickness; and detecting a polishing endpoint or an adjustment for a polishing parameter based on the adjusted measured thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Xu, Ingemar Carlsson, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Doyle E. Bennett, Shih-Haur Shen, Hassan G Iravani, Wen-Chiang Tu, Tzu-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 9636798
    Abstract: Systems and related methods are provided for maintaining a spatial relationship between a tool of the multi-axis machine (e.g., fluid jet nozzle of a fluid jet cutting machine) and a workpiece to be processed by the tool. An example system includes a contour follower apparatus having a sensor and a gimbal assembly operable with the sensor to sense a deviation between a machine focal point and a gimbal assembly focal point defined by the gimbal assembly as the gimbal assembly rides upon the surface of the workpiece during operation. The system may further include a gimbal mount assembly configured to sense a collision event of the gimbal assembly with another object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Flow International Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan E. Romanoff, Kenneth E. Claeys, Kirby J. Eide
  • Patent number: 9636799
    Abstract: Abrasive-delivery apparatuses for use in abrasive-jet systems and associated apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed. An abrasive-delivery apparatus configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first funnel segment and a second funnel segment downstream from the first funnel segment. The first funnel segment can have a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first interior region extending between the first inlet and the first outlet. Similarly, the second funnel segment can have a second inlet, a second outlet, and a second interior region extending between the second inlet and the second outlet. The first interior region can have a first inward taper toward the first outlet, and the second interior region can have a second inward taper toward the second outlet. The second inward taper can be steeper than the first inward taper when the abrasive-delivery apparatus is vertically oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Peter H.-T. Liu, Ernst H. Schubert
  • Patent number: 9636800
    Abstract: A cubic nitride compact containing a polycrystalline mass of cubic boron nitride particles, present in an amount of at least 70 percent by volume, and a binder phase, which is metallic in character. In addition, a compact in which the binder phase is preferably superalloy in character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ELEMENT SIX ABRASIVES S.A.
    Inventors: Anton Raoul Twersky, Nedret Can
  • Patent number: 9636801
    Abstract: A vise system and method of manufacture of thereof includes: a base frame having an upper rail, a base portion, and a vise channel; a handhold vent in a lateral sidewall of the base portion; a jaw carrier assembly within the vise channel of the base frame; and a jaw assembly attached to the jaw carrier assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Glacern Machine Tools, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Lee, Eric Sun, Cynthia Hu
  • Patent number: 9636802
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary actuated axial clamp that includes a primary fixture, having a rotatable primary clamp, having primary clamp fingers that engage secondary clamp fingers on a stationary secondary clamp. The primary fixture is attached to a positioner, while the secondary fixture is attached to the work piece. Different secondary fixtures can be utilized to fit the shape and size of the work piece, while maintaining a secondary clamp that is able to engage the primary clamp of the primary fixture. The primary fixture can consequently be utilized with numerous different work pieces having different shapes and sizes by simply modifying a secondary fixture to adapt to the size and shape of the work piece. Roller engagement of the primary clamp and secondary clamp reduces the force required to clamp and unclamp the primary and secondary fixtures. This reduces problems associated with attaching a work piece to a positioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: John Schoening
  • Patent number: 9636803
    Abstract: An actuating device has a linearly-movable fluidly operated piston drive (1). A pivot shaft (3) is movably, rotatably mounted in a housing (2). A lever arm (4) is connected with the pivot shaft (3) in a torsionally rigid manner. An adjustment mechanism (5) connects the piston drive (1) with the pivot shaft (3). A damping device (6) dampens movement of the lever arm (4). The damping device (6) is associated with the housing (2) and with the pivot shaft (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DE-STA-CO Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Schuh
  • Patent number: 9636804
    Abstract: A clamping device includes first and second clamping members. Each of the first and second clamping members has a handle and a jaw. A bend is formed between two ends of the jaw of the first clamping member, and a first angle between the jaw and the handle of the first clamping member is smaller than 180°. Another bend is formed between two ends of the jaw of the second clamping member, and a second angle between the jaw and the handle of the second clamping member is equal to the first angle. The clamping device can be used to clamp a pipe. When the second clamping member is moving from a release position to the clamping position, two clamping portions respectively of the jaws remain parallel to each other such that force is evenly applied to two sides of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Ming Chieh Wu
  • Patent number: 9636805
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a pair of retractable pliers, comprising a jaw body which comprises a first and a second jaw part that are articulated together via an articulated shaft, and a handle body which comprises a first and a second internal housing. The first and the second jaw part each have a pliers head and a connection part, and the connection parts of the first and the second jaw part are slidably connected to the first and the second internal housing respectively. The pair of retractable pliers also comprises a locking structure which is arranged on the connection parts of the first and the second jaw part and which is capable of fixing the connection parts of the first and the second jaw part together. Once the locking structure is open, the pliers heads can open automatically for convenience of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Min Wang
  • Patent number: 9636806
    Abstract: A nut driver for driving nuts of various sizes includes an elongated housing with opposing driver and handle ends. The driver end is open and assumes a largest size. A rigid collar and plunger are fixed about the housing and positioned at any of a number of selectable radial positions, each of which is associated with a different nut size. A plurality of nested sockets are each slidably movable by the plunger between forward and rearward positions. Each socket has a foot adapted for contacting the plunger at one of the selectable radial positions. The elongated housing is preferably separated into two sections, including a handle and a two-sided socket mechanism that includes two opposing driver ends each having sockets of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: David M. Lee, Mike Zwiesler
  • Patent number: 9636807
    Abstract: An internal plumbing wrench is arranged for internally gripping a plumbing insert, such as those used in sinks and the like. The internal wrench includes a split gripping section which is adjustable by the cam action of a hexagonal core. A central shaft has a foot extending 90° away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft and is arranged to extend into pipes connected to the insert to hold a broken pieces and permit separation of the insert from any pipe pieces attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Rodney Bills
  • Patent number: 9636808
    Abstract: An impact device includes a transmission shaft, an impact cylinder, two first impact pins and a first ring. The transmission shaft has an impacted section disposed in the impact cylinder, an extending section extending along an axis, a first protrusion extending toward a first radial direction, and two first concave surfaces located at the first protrusion. The impact cylinder has two elongated protrusions and two first radial holes separated by the elongated protrusions. The first impact pins are received in the first radial holes in parallel to the axis and abuttable against the first concave surfaces. The first ring is sleeved onto the impact cylinder and the first impact pins and has a first narrow groove in which one elongated protrusion is located, and a first wide groove in which the other elongated protrusion is movably located. The impact device has sufficient torque output and long lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Chuan-Cheng Ho
  • Patent number: 9636809
    Abstract: An electric power wrench for fastening and loosening joints includes: a main shaft for delivering a torque to a joint, an electric motor that is arranged to selectively drive the main shaft in two opposed rotational directions, a control unit for controlling the drive of the electric motor, and a transmission that connects the electric motor to the main shaft. The control unit has a first drive mode in which it controls the electric motor such that it delivers a continuous torque in a forward direction, and delivers torque pulses in an opposite backward direction, wherein the transmission includes an inherent play and wherein the torque pulses are produced in said play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO INDUSTRIAL TECHNIQUE AB
    Inventor: Karl Johan Lars Elsmark
  • Patent number: 9636810
    Abstract: A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft. The radial lip seal includes a flexible sealing lip. The guide sleeve includes a cylindrical lip engaging surface, and includes an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface. The guide sleeve also includes a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion. The guide sleeve is pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric T. Lammers, Allan N. Schott, Blake A. Metz
  • Patent number: 9636811
    Abstract: A fastener-driving tool including a housing, a power source including a reciprocating driver blade, a tool nose configured for receiving the driver blade for driving fasteners fed into the nose and a magazine configured to house a collation including a plurality of the fasteners. A workpiece contact element is movably connected to the nose and moves between a rest position and an actuated position when the workpiece contact element is pressed against a workpiece, the workpiece contact element moves to the actuated position. A lockout mechanism is operatively associated with the workpiece contact element and the magazine, and is in contact with the collation in a first position when fasteners are in the magazine and moves to a second position when a last fastener in the collation has been driven by the driver blade to block the workpiece contact element and prevent further actuation of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ricardo Segura
  • Patent number: 9636812
    Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus includes a drive mechanism, a drive piston disposed with in a cylinder and operatively coupled to the drive mechanism, and an anvil coupled to the drive piston. The apparatus also preferably comprises a biasing element for temporarily holding the drive piston at BDC of the piston cylinder. The drive mechanism is capable of selectively applying force on the drive piston to move the drive piston away from BDC of the piston cylinder. When the drive mechanism engages the drive piston to move the drive piston away from BDC, a vacuum is generated in the cylinder, which vacuum, after the drive mechanism disengages the drive piston, acts on the drive piston to cause the piston to move toward BDC and the anvil to drive a fastener. A sealed air chamber on the side of the piston opposite the vacuum may assist in generating force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Tricord Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Pedicini
  • Patent number: 9636813
    Abstract: A spad setting tool includes a housing portion including a spad setting assembly receiver and a trigger. A spad setting assembly is operatively coupled to the housing at the spad setting assembly receiver. The spad setting assembly includes a spad receiving member having a spad receiving zone, and a spad retaining element. The spad retaining element is configured and disposed to retain a spad in the spad receiving zone regardless of an orientation of the spad setting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Rose, Alan J. Armiento, Robert LaBarbera
  • Patent number: 9636814
    Abstract: A hammer mechanism having at least one impact-generation unit and a clamping chuck drive shaft is provided. The impact-generation unit includes a spur-gear transmission stage for translating a rotational speed of the clamping chuck drive shaft into a higher rotational speed for impact generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Hecht, Martin Kraus
  • Patent number: 9636815
    Abstract: A tool receptacle is disclosed. The tool receptacle has a receiving sleeve which has a prismatic or cylindrical cavity for receiving a tool and an elongated hole for receiving a locking body. The elongated hole has a closed edge formed of two opposing longitudinal sides at a constant distance and two end sides completing the elongated hole. An extension along the working axis of at least one of the end sides is less than half of the constant distance of the opposing longitudinal sides. A groove running parallel to the working axis is provided on an inner surface of the receptacle sleeve. The groove is disposed in an extending manner at the elongated hole on the inner surface along the working axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Doberenz, Andres Wellmann Jelic
  • Patent number: 9636816
    Abstract: A removable universal stake puller providing a working tool with a removable stake puller member for pulling a concrete foundation stake from the ground. A first and second plate with at least one pair of apertures to receive a fastener such as a set screw therethrough are provided and secure the present device to a working tool body. A stake puller member with a plurality of teeth is disposed on the second plate to pull concrete foundation stakes from the ground when attached to the working tool body and is removable allowing the present device to be used on a plurality of working tools such as a hammer, a crow bar, or a mallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: James Lopez
  • Patent number: 9636817
    Abstract: A powered hand tool is adapted to use a variety of interchangeable rotary tools to assist in outdoor activities. Either of two basic tool designs can be utilized for activities including garden tilling, brushing and cleaning, auguring or post hole digging, and auto finishing and polishing. In one embodiment, an adjustable shroud is utilized along with a tiller construction to change the viewing angle of the working tiller tines to facilitate use by operators of different heights, including a kneeling position. The ability to utilize tow torque and low speed assists in avoiding accidental damage to underground wires and, if encountered, the reversibility of the drive assists in untangling the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: D.J.S. Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott S. McLain
  • Patent number: 9636818
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for operably coupling an input member to an output member includes a first cycloidal gear stage having a first gear ratio and a second cycloidal gear stage having a second gear ratio different than the first gear ratio. The transmission assembly also includes a shifting mechanism for selectively driving the output member with one of the first cycloidal gear stage and the second cycloidal gear stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC POWER TOOLS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Addison C. Kierspe, Kyle D. Turner, Kirton W. Neipp, Leonid D. Kapanzhi, William C. Buck
  • Patent number: 9636819
    Abstract: A work bench including a frame foldable between an in-use position and a closed position. A table surface is connected to the frame. The frame includes two sides, the two sides connected to each other with a latchable bar and one or more fixed crossbars. The work bench also includes movable catch which is movable from a position in which it retains the latchable bar at the latched position to maintain the work bench in an in-use position, and a released position in which the latchable bar is release from the catch to allow the work bench to be folded into a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE STANLEY WORKS ISRAEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Omri Lifshitz, Miki Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 9636820
    Abstract: A device configured to collect and dispel pinecones is provided. The device includes a handle, and a collecting head. The collecting head includes a plurality of prongs extending outwardly from an outer surface of the head. A sliding block having a plurality of holes configured to receive a corresponding prong is slidingly attached to the shaft. A biasing member having one end fixedly attached to the shaft and the other end attached to the sliding block continuously urges the sliding block against the head so as to allow the prongs to protrude through the respective holes. Accordingly, the device is configured to stick a plurality of pinecones wherein the sliding block may be pushed so as to displace the sliding block forward of the head pushing the pinecones off the prongs and into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Phillip Strickland
  • Patent number: 9636821
    Abstract: An industrial robot may include a main body part; a plurality of levers having base end sides turnably connected with the main body part; a plurality of arm parts having respective base end sides turnably connected with respective tip end sides of the plurality of the levers; a movable part which is turnably connected with the respective tip end sides of the plurality of the arm parts; and a plurality of turning drive mechanisms for respectively turning the plurality of the levers. The plurality of the levers may radially extend to an outer peripheral side of the main body part at a substantially equal pitch. The arm part may provided with two arms which are mutually parallel to each other and are formed in a straight shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Yazawa, Yutaka Yoshizawa, Masashi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9636822
    Abstract: A method for generating a robot control scenario includes generating a judgement frame by a computational means, storing the judgement frame in a storage means, and displaying the judgement frame by receiving a situation cognition frame and an expression frame; generating a stage by the computation means, storing the stage in the storage means, and displaying the stage by selecting at least one judgement frame and at least one transition frame; and connecting a transition frame of one stage to another stage in at least two stages by the computation means, storing the connected stages in the storage means, and displaying the connected stages. According to the present invention, a robot exists within a close distance to people in a human living space, and can recognize a surrounding situation and information provided by the people and provide a service that meets various requests desired by the people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FUTURE ROBOT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Se Kyong Song, Won Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9636823
    Abstract: A robot control device, when starting from a stop state, updates a first rotation angle or a second rotation angle based on at least one of the first rotation angle stored in a first rotation angle storage unit and the second rotation angle stored in a second rotation angle storage unit and at least one of the first rotation angle detected by a first rotation angle detector and the second rotation angle detected by the second rotation angle detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Harada, Takahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9636824
    Abstract: A transfer system includes a first station at which a workpiece is placed, a second station which receives the workpiece from the first station, a robot including a holder for holding the workpiece and for transferring the workpiece from the first station to the second station, an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the workpiece that reflects a position of the workpiece in the first station, a first memory unit that stores intended placement position information indicating an intended placement position of the workpiece in the first station, and a deviation calculator that calculates a deviation of the position of the workpiece in the first station relative to the intended placement position. The deviation calculator calculates the deviation based on the image of the workpiece and the intended placement position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DAIHEN Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9636825
    Abstract: A robotic logistics system is disclosed. The system includes multiple robots each having an image capture unit and a server communicatively coupled to the multiple robots. The server is configured to transmit a location of a first item to a first robot and the location of a second item to a second robot; track the positions of the first robot and the second robot; transmit a first image of the first item captured by the first robot to an operator device; receive a first verification signal from the operator device in response to the first image; transmit a second image of the second item captured by the second robot to the operator device; and receive a second verification signal from the operator device in response to the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: RoboteX Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor J. Penn, Andrew G. Stevens, Gabriella L. Seal, Eric D. Ivers
  • Patent number: 9636826
    Abstract: An interactive personal robot includes a basal body, a memory set in the basal body, a rotating mechanism connected to the basal body, a camera and a microphone assigned on the basal body and a control system set in the basal body. The camera is used to capture an image of a user's eyes. The microphone is configured to record audio of the user. The control system is used to process the image and the audio, to compare the image and the audio processed with the image and audio stored in the memory to gain a corresponding instruction, and to control the rotating mechanism, the rotating mechanism in turn the interactive personal robot to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Yi Liao, Yi-Cheng Lin, Shih-Pin Lin, Chang-Da Ho, Sei-Ping Louh, Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 9636827
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot that operates to move a machining tool relative to a workpiece, an actuator that changes a position of the machining tool, and a control device that controls the robot. The control device includes a robot control unit that operates the robot along a predetermined motion trajectory, a force detection unit that detects force acting between the machining tool and the workpiece, a position detection unit that detects a current position of the machining tool, a force control unit that obtains a target position of the machining tool such that a detection value of the force detection unit approaches a predetermined value, and a position correction unit that calculates a position correction amount of a motion trajectory of the robot and a position correction amount of the actuator in response to the target position of the machining tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 9636828
    Abstract: A jointed limb comprising at least first (2) and second (4) rigid segments and a joint (6) providing rotation of the first and second segments with respect to each other about an axis of rotation (Y), said joint (6) comprising fibers, wherein each of the segments (2, 4) comprises a body (8.1, 8.2) and an end element (10.1, 10.2) provided at an end of said body, both end elements (10.1, 10.2) being held facing each other by said joint (6), said end elements (10.1, 10.2) comprising tapered profiles having vertices facing each other, each of said end elements (10.1, 10.2) being made prior to being secured it to the corresponding body (8.1, 8.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Florian Gosselin, Javier Martin
  • Patent number: 9636829
    Abstract: A knife is provided that has at least one scale with multiple layers. A user can remove these layers to achieve the proper knife handle thickness. Further, the user may add various top layers to accommodate different applications of the knife. These features improve the utility of the knife and lower the cost for the user because the user does not have to buy multiple knives with different handle sizes and different handle types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Spyderco, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9636830
    Abstract: A shaving razor cartridge with a housing having a guard, a cap, and one or more blades located between the guard and the cap. The guard is positioned in front of the one or more blades and the cap is positioned behind said one or more blades. A heat delivering element is mounted to the housing for transferring heat during a shaving stroke. The heat delivering element includes a skin contacting surface and an opposing bottom surface defined by a perimeter wall. An insulating member is positioned within the perimeter wall. The insulating member has a first surface facing the bottom surface of the heat delivering element and a second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew James Hodgson, Norbert Broemse, Klaus Heubach, Timo Schmitt, Maurice Schirmer, Felix Koenig, Juergen Behrendt
  • Patent number: 9636831
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an item, such as a roast, a bagel, or a loaf of bread, comprising first and second wall devices, a cutting board device, and a base. The first and second wall devices may each have a plurality of vertical slots which are parallel and spaced apart from each other. The first and second wall devices may be configured to be attached to the base in a manner such that the first wall device projects out from the base, at an angle. The cutting board device may include a cutting board body and pins for removably supporting the cutting board device by both the first and second wall devices so that first and second parts of the cutting board device rest on the first and second wall devices to thereby support and suspend the cutting board body above and substantially parallel to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Vincenzo A. Furia
  • Patent number: 9636832
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for spirally slicing meat are disclosed. In one embodiment, a meat stabilizer apparatus includes a paddle; an arm attached to and extending from the paddle; and a coupling assembly that couples the arm to a meat cutting assembly. In another embodiment, a spiral slicing apparatus includes a cutting assembly having a knife blade coupled with a knife carriage; a meat support apparatus having a rotatable turntable coupled with a drive assembly; and a meat stabilizer apparatus having a paddle and an arm attached to and extending from the paddle. In another embodiment, a method for spirally slicing meat includes (1) rotating a meat product about a first axis on a turntable; (2) stabilizing the rotating meat product along its exterior surface with a meat stabilizer apparatus comprising a paddle coupled with and extending from an arm; and (3) spirally slicing the meat product in a direction generally transverse to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SF INVESTMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Delbert W. Rexwinkle, Jr., John L. Ross, Jr.