Patents Issued in May 30, 2017
  • Patent number: 9662750
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for attachment to a pipe cutter having a saddle portion is disclosed comprising a first member suitable for mounting to the saddle portion, a second member suitable for mounting to a pipe and a pivoting joint to pivotally connect first member to second member. In another embodiment, an apparatus for attachment to a pipe cutter having a saddle portion is disclosed comprising a first member suitable for mounting to the saddle portion, a second member suitable for mounting to a pipe, a pivoting joint to pivotally connect first member to second member, pipe mounting means to securely mount second member to said pipe, angle adjustment means and at least one fastener to securely fasten first member to the saddle portion of the pipe cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventors: Randy Williams, Frank Williams
  • Patent number: 9662751
    Abstract: The modular fixturing system of the present invention is modular, reusable and capable of significant customization, both in terms of system radius and system height, allowing it to be arranged and rearranged in numerous unique configurations. The system includes multiple modular stanchions having stanchion shafts and stanchion feet that removably attach to apertures in a table. Angle brackets attached to the modular stanchions support shelves. These shelves in turn provide support to work pieces during fabrication processes such as welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Justin Anderson Littell, Jon P. Street
  • Patent number: 9662752
    Abstract: A damped actuator for a fluid regulator includes a diaphragm disposed in a housing, and a damper arranged to stabilize movement of the diaphragm in response to changes in pressure inside the housing. The damper includes a ball check valve arranged to allow air to exhaust out of the housing when above a preselected pressure. The damper may include interchangeable components so as to be modifiable to have different set point pressures to achieve different backpressures inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jason S. Mevius
  • Patent number: 9662753
    Abstract: A method to fabricate a fluid bearing spindle includes creating a hollow cylindrical bore through a solid workpiece. The hollow cylindrical bore has a journal bearing portion including first and second distal tapered bearing segments separated by a central bearing segment having a constant radius. Each of the first and second distal tapered bearing segments has a tapered bearing radius that increases with distance from the central bearing segment to a maximum tapered bearing radius that is in the range of 0.5 microns to 1.5 microns greater than the constant radius. Subsequently, a cylindrical spindle shaft is inserted into the hollow cylindrical bore. In an alternative embodiment, a cylindrical outer surface of the spindle shaft includes the tapered bearing segments, rather than the hollow cylindrical bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Klaus Kloeppel, Ronald G. Ilagan, Diep L. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9662754
    Abstract: A fastener driving system, apparatus and method includes a receiver into which the fastener is deposited and a torqueing device extendable into the receiver for applying powered torque to the fastener to install the fastener into the associated work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric L. Beaty
  • Patent number: 9662755
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle steering system that is able to restrict a travel amount of a steered shaft in a housing, that is small and that has an excellent strength. The vehicle steering system is a steer-by-wire vehicle steering system that converts rotative power of electric motors into a movement of a steered shaft in an axial direction via a ball screw mechanism. One of contact portions at respective ends of a screw shaft at an intermediate part of the steered shaft passes through a rotor based on a moving direction of the steered shaft so as to contact a corresponding one of the corresponding stoppers thereby restricting a travel amount of the steered shaft. The stoppers are made of a material different from that of the housing and having a high strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9662756
    Abstract: Feed tools and methods of use for initiating a change in a spindle feed direction from an advance direction that moves the spindle towards a workpiece to a retract direction that moves the spindle away from the workpiece. The tool and methods may use a thrust overload force that is generated on one or more of the components to initiate the shift from forward to retract and/or a lift ring that acts on one or more of the components. The tool and methods may also include a two-stage piston to accomplish the shift. The various components may be used independently or in combination within the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Watford, Kevin Myhill, Marc Djabri
  • Patent number: 9662757
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating concrete, which includes the steps of wetting a surface of concrete with a amorphous colloidal silica, allowing time for the colloidal silica to penetrate the concrete surface, and cutting the surface of the concrete with a bladed tool wherein the longitudinal blade portion is positioned approximately at an angle between 30 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the surface of the concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Global Polishing Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Wetherell
  • Patent number: 9662758
    Abstract: The chainsaw guide bar straightener has a flat table having a length of about ? of the nominal length of a chainsaw guide bar, and a clamp on one corner of the table. The clamp is used for pressing the guide bar down against the table along a diagonal of the guide bar, for better measuring deformation in the guide bar. In another aspect, the chainsaw guide bar straightener has a pair of spaced apart anvil posts mounted to the frame thereof. These anvil posts define an open space there between. The chainsaw guide bar straightener further includes an hydraulic cylinder mounted to the machine frame. The hydraulic cylinder has a rod end head being movable along a working axis extending between the anvil posts and being centered with the open space, for straightening a chainsaw guide bar that is positioned between the rod end head and the anvil posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: James Cowie
  • Patent number: 9662759
    Abstract: There is disclosed a grinding method of a honeycomb structure, wherein a grind processing member having an outer peripheral surface, a first grinding wheel tapered surface and a second grinding wheel tapered surface and rotating around a central axis grinds a joined honeycomb segment assembly rotating around a central axis, and the above respective surfaces of the grind processing member form a first ground region, a second ground region, a center ground surface, a first tapered surface and a second tapered surface, to prepare the honeycomb structure including a cylindrical honeycomb base material, and a ring-like bulge portion “which surrounds an outer periphery of the honeycomb base material, protrudes from the outer periphery of the honeycomb base material toward the outside in a flange manner, and has the first tapered surface, the second tapered surface and the center ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujioka, Masanari Iwade, Akifumi Nishio, Taishi Michiwaki
  • Patent number: 9662760
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool, in particular an angle grinder, having a drive unit, has an electronically commutated electric motor and has an electronics system which is integrated in an appliance housing. The ratio of a weight of the hand-held power tool MHWZM to a nominal power PN is selected in such a way that, in a power range of from 0 to 1200 W, the ratio of the weight of the hand-held power tool MHWXM to the nominal power PN is at most 0.75 g/W*PN+1200 g, and, at a value of the nominal power of greater than 1200 W, the ratio of the weight of the hand-held power tool to the nominal power is at most 2.2*PN?540 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Schuele, Helmut Wanek, Cornelius Boeck, Daniel Barth, Joachim Schadow, Joerg Maute, Florian Esenwein, Manfred Lutz
  • Patent number: 9662761
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus capable of stably controlling a pressure in a pressure chamber of a top ring is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a rotatable polishing table for supporting a polishing pad; a rotatable top ring having a pressure chamber for pressing a substrate against the polishing pad; a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of a gas in the pressure chamber; and a buffer tank provided between the pressure chamber and the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator includes a pressure-regulating valve, a pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure of the gas at a downstream side of the pressure-regulating valve, and a valve controller configured to control an operation of the pressure-regulating valve so as to minimize a difference between a target value of the pressure in the pressure chamber and a pressure value measured by the pressure gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Toru Maruyama, Suguru Sakugawa, Osamu Nabeya
  • Patent number: 9662762
    Abstract: A polishing system include a support to hold a substrate having a substrate surface to be polished, a carrier to hold a polishing pad in contact with the substrate surface, and a pressure applicator to apply pressure at a selected region of a back surface of the polishing pad. The back surface is opposite to the polishing surface. The pressure applicator includes an actuator and a body configured to be moved by the actuator into and out of contact with the selected region of the back surface of the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Gurusamy, Hung Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 9662763
    Abstract: Provided is a polishing composition containing at least aluminum oxide abrasive grains and water, and having a pH of 8.5 or higher. The aluminum oxide abrasive grains have a specific surface area of 20 m2/g or less. It is preferable for the aluminum oxide abrasive grains to have an average secondary particle size of 0.1 ?m or more and 20 ?m or less. The polishing composition is used for polishing hard and brittle materials having a Vickers hardness of 1,500 Hv or higher, such as sapphire, silicon carbide, and gallium nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIMI INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Asano, Kazusei Tamai, Yasunori Okada
  • Patent number: 9662764
    Abstract: The substrate holder is a device for holding a substrate and pressing it against a polishing pad. The substrate holder includes: an inner retaining ring vertically movable independently of the top ring body and arranged around the substrate; an inner pressing mechanism to press the inner retaining ring against the polishing surface of the polishing pad; an outer retaining ring to vertically movable independently of the inner retaining ring and the top ring body; an outer pressing mechanism to press the outer retaining ring against the polishing surface; and a supporting mechanism to receive a lateral force applied to the inner retaining ring from the substrate during polishing of the substrate and to tiltably support the outer retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Fukushima, Hozumi Yasuda, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki
  • Patent number: 9662765
    Abstract: A device for electromechanically assisted roller burnishing (EMRB) may comprise: a roller burnishing tool with exactly one current-leading roller burnishing element for burnishing a workpiece, wherein the roller burnishing element represents a first electrical contact element for electrically contacting first location of the workpiece, and a second electrical contact element for electrically contacting second location of the workpiece; wherein the first and the second electrical contact elements can be positioned at a settable spatial distance to one another, so that on moving the roller burnishing element on the workpiece, a current path in the workpiece between the first and the second contact elements is always a constant length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Technische Universität Berlin
    Inventors: Holger Hüning, Jens König, Eckart Uhlmann, Christoph König
  • Patent number: 9662766
    Abstract: A method of abrading a workpiece includes: contacting a metallic workpiece, having a bulk temperature of less than 500 degrees Celsius, with a stationary rotating bonded abrasive wheel having a diameter of at least 150 millimeters, wherein the bonded abrasive wheel comprises ceramic shaped abrasive particles retained in a binder, and wherein metallic swarf is formed, and at least 20 percent by weight of the metallic swarf is filamentary metallic swarf having a length of at least 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark G. Schwabel, Josef Kofler
  • Patent number: 9662767
    Abstract: A sanding drum assembly in one embodiment includes at least one elastic friction member defining an outer perimeter, a plurality of feet located inwardly of the at least one elastic friction member, each of the plurality of feet including a movable portion movable between a first position whereat the plurality of feet define a first outermost circumference and a second position whereat the plurality of feet define a second outermost circumference, wherein the second outermost circumference is larger than the first outermost circumference, and an actuator, wherein the plurality of feet and the actuator are configured such that as the actuator and the plurality of feet change from a first configuration to a second configuration, the plurality of feet are forced from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edward Abante, Roger Hajny, Kyle Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9662768
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article including a body having a backing including a spunlace polyester-based material and a saturant contained in the spunlace polyester-based material, the saturant including a material selected from the group of phenolic resin, acrylic, urea resin, and a combination thereof, and an abrasive layer overlying the backing including abrasive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: SAINT-GOBAIN ABRASIVES, INC., SAINT-GOBAIN ABRASIFS
    Inventors: Muthukrishnan Sharmila, Adiseshaiah K. Sathyanarayanaiah, Srirangapattana Narasimhaiah Srihari, Sérgio Andrade De Melo, André Volpiani
  • Patent number: 9662769
    Abstract: A cutter element for a drill bit, comprising: a substrate having a longitudinal axis; a first layer of polycrystalline diamond coupled to the substrate; and a second layer of polycrystalline diamond coupled to the first layer at a first coherent boundary; where the first layer is axially positioned between the substrate and the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventor: Jiinjen Albert Sue
  • Patent number: 9662770
    Abstract: Multi-purpose cooking tongs that are configured to grasp food and bars of a cooking grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: William Powers Gross
  • Patent number: 9662771
    Abstract: A fixing fixture adapted to fix an assembling component is provided. The fixing fixture includes a base and at least one positioning component. The positioning component is pivoted with the base and has a supporting portion and a positioning portion. When the positioning component is located at a first position, the assembling component is adapted to push the supporting portion to drive the positioning component to rotate to a second position, such that the positioning portion is closely pressed against the assembling component. When the positioning component is located at the second position and the positioning portion is closely pressed against the assembling component, a fastening component is adapted to rotate along an axis to be fastened onto the assembling component, and the positioning portion stops the assembling component from rotating along the axis with the fastening component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Shelley Chen
  • Patent number: 9662772
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a wrench body, a ratchet wheel and a C-ring. The wrench body has a working end defining a stepped hole. The stepped hole includes an outer large-diameter portion, an inner small-diameter portion and a shoulder disposed at a junction of the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion. The ratchet wheel is rotatably mounted in the stepped hole of the wrench body, and has a row of teeth therearound and a flange located proximate to the teeth. The flange rests upon the shoulder of the stepped hole. The C-ring is placed around the ratchet wheel and rests upon an upper surface of the flange of the ratchet wheel. Moreover, the C-ring is configured and sized to be detachably engaged in an annular groove defined in an inner wall of the large-diameter portion of the stepped hole for retaining the ratchet wheel within the stepped hole of the working end of the wrench body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Yi-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 9662773
    Abstract: A bidirectional ratchet structure includes a base, a first pawl element, a second pawl element, two reset elements, a direction controller and a driving element. The first pawl element, the second pawl element, the direction controller and the driving element are pivotally disposed at the base. The first pawl element includes a first engaging portion. The second pawl element includes a second engaging portion. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are pushed to protrude from the base alternatively. The two reset elements are for pushing the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion to protrude from the base respectively. The first pawl element and the second pawl element are surrounded by the direction controller and the driving element. The direction controller is for pressing the first pawl element or the second pawl element toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KABO TOOL COMPANY
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9662774
    Abstract: A unitary, or single, uniformly thick planar plate is configured whereby the plate may be utilized as a lever of the first kind to engage multiple arrays of fastening bolts. The plate includes a lever arm aligned with a longitudinal axis, a fastener engaging circular opening at one corner of the plate spaced laterally from the axis and at the end opposite outer end of the lever arm and a fastener engaging straight edge normal to the axis and tangent to the circular opening in the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Lisle Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 9662775
    Abstract: A tool for removing a stud includes a housing, a cage and a canted coil spring. The housing has an interior sidewall with a three-lobed cam and a groove. Each lobe has a counterclockwise cam inner surface and a clockwise cam inner surface on the opposite side of the lobe center line. The cage has a top surface, a tapered terminus and a groove disposed between the top surface and the tapered terminus. The cage includes jaws, in which the jaw outer cam surface of each jaw interfaces with the cam inner surface of the interior sidewall. The canted coil spring rotatably couples the cage to the housing. During stud removal, the housing rotates counterclockwise relative to the cage and the cage rotates counterclockwise to engage the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TOOLTECH, LLC
    Inventor: Jake Merrick
  • Patent number: 9662776
    Abstract: A fastener-driving tool is provided and includes a housing and a workpiece-contacting element movably connected to the housing, where the workpiece-contacting element is movable between a rest position and an activated position. A trigger is movably connected to the housing such that the trigger is movable between a rest position and an activated position. The tool further includes an actuation lever movably connected to the trigger and movable between a rest position and an activated position. A damper mechanism is associated with the actuation lever and is configured to control a rate of movement of the actuation lever between the activated position and the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Madhav Sai Puppala, Stephen Moore
  • Patent number: 9662777
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a pneumatic fastener driver including a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder. The piston is moveable between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The driver also includes a magnetic latch emitting a magnetic field that magnetically attracts the piston and is capable of holding the piston in the top-dead-center position with a magnetic force. The magnetic latch is adjustable to vary the magnetic force acting on the piston for driving fasteners into a workpiece at different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC POWER TOOLS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Edward A. Pomeroy, John Schnell
  • Patent number: 9662778
    Abstract: A rotary hammer includes a motor, a spindle coupled to the motor for receiving torque from the motor, a piston at least partially received within the spindle for reciprocation therein, and an anvil received within the spindle for reciprocation in response to reciprocation of the piston. The anvil imparts axial impacts to a tool bit in response to reciprocation of the piston. The rotary hammer also includes a bit retention assembly for securing the tool bit to the spindle. The bit retention assembly includes a collar with an indicator thereon. The indicator is at least partially visible to a user of the rotary hammer when the tool bit is improperly inserted within the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Troy C. Thorson, Jeremy R. Ebner
  • Patent number: 9662779
    Abstract: An ergonomic counter-balanced handled tool that is ergonomic and counter-balanced includes a tube that is angled proximate to a midpoint of the tube defining a lower section and an upper section of the tube. The lower section extends transversely from the upper section. A counterweight is slidably coupled to the upper section proximate to a first end of the tube. The counterweight is positionable at a user-selected distance from the first end. A tool is reversibly couplable to a second end of the tube. A harness is couplable to the upper section of the tube, such that the harness is configured to position around a user's shoulder. The counterweight is positioned to extend from the first end of the tube such that the tool and a respective load positioned at the second end are substantially balanced relative to the harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: David Yancey
  • Patent number: 9662780
    Abstract: An apparatus and method utilize a conventional portable shop vacuum to facilitate the collection of dust generated by a machine tool in a workshop. Selective translation of the machine tool along a workshop floor among chosen locations is enabled by virtue of casters provided by the shop vacuum. A selectively operated actuating mechanism renders the machine tool stationary at any one particular chosen location along the workshop floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Glenn W. Harte
  • Patent number: 9662781
    Abstract: A socket holding frame has a track base and at least one positioning mount. The track base has a bottom panel and a slide rail. The bottom panel has multiple first engaging segments formed on a top surface of the bottom panel. The at least one positioning mount is slidably and rotatably mounted on the track base, and each one of the at least one positioning mount has a sliding seat and an extending element. The sliding seat is slidably and rotatably mounted in the slide rail and has multiple second engaging segments. The multiple second engaging segments engage with the multiple first engaging segments on the bottom panel. The extending element is formed on the sliding seat and extends out of the slide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Jui-Chien Kao
  • Patent number: 9662782
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile robot for detecting and repairing damages of a hull, including: a mobile robot unit which includes at least one frame to which motor-driven drive wheels are installed, frame connectors which flexibly connect the frames with each other, and at least one robot electromagnet and adsorption module mounted on each of the frames, and is configured to be attached to the hull through the robot electromagnet so as to move or stop on a surface of the hull by the drive wheels; a stage unit which includes a rechargeable battery mounted therein to supply power to the mobile robot unit, and a docking module provided to dock with or separate from the mobile robot unit; and a connection line configured to be wound or unwound while receiving tension controlled by the stage unit, and electrically connected between the mobile robot unit and the stage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Mokpo National Maritime University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Teak-kun Nam, Jin-man Kim
  • Patent number: 9662783
    Abstract: The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to a micromanipulator arrangement that includes at least one drive stem, at least one movable element arranged on the drive stem to move along the drive stem wherein the drive stem being arranged to cause a change in a position of the movable element with respect to the drive stem; wherein an additional factor exists having an effect in the change of the position of the movable element and the micromanipulator arrangement further comprises means for compensating said additional factor such that said effect is diminished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SensApex Oy
    Inventor: Mikko Vähäsöyrinki
  • Patent number: 9662784
    Abstract: A robotic device receives a first signal from a positioning hardware device that is worn by a user. The first signal describes a relative location between the user and the robotic device. A second signal describes an angle between the user and the robotic device and between the user and the user-selected object. Based on the first signal, the second signal, and a record of object positions of objects within a predefined area of the user, the identification and location of the user-selected object is determined. A determination is made regarding whether or not the robotic device is authorized to perform a specific task on the user-selected object based on the location of the user-selected object. If authorized, the robotic device performs the specific task on the user-selected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Craig M. Trim
  • Patent number: 9662785
    Abstract: A gantry robot system may include a workpiece support, a workpiece feeder for engaging the workpiece and moving the workpiece in a first direction relative to the workpiece support, a gantry, a slide movably mounted on the gantry and movable in a second direction different from the direction of movement of the workpiece by the workpiece feeder, an articulated arm mounted on the slide and having an end effector at an end of the articulated arm opposite the slide, and a computer control connected to actuate the workpiece feeder, the slide, the articulated arm, and the end effector in a coordinated manner to perform a preselected machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: PRODUCTION DESIGN SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9662786
    Abstract: An industrial robot of the present disclosure includes a manipulator, a control device for controlling the manipulator, and a connection cable that connects the manipulator to the control device. The manipulator includes a fixed base section, a first motor, a first detecting section, a power supply section, a first casing, and a first power supply cable. The first motor operates the manipulator. The first detecting section detects the state of the first motor. The power supply section supplies electric power to the first detecting section. The first casing stores the first motor and the first detecting section. The first power supply cable connects the first detecting section to the power supply section. The power supply section is disposed in the base section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nagai, Kazunori Matsumoto, Wataru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9662787
    Abstract: An example robot includes movable members, a hydraulic system including at least (i) hydraulic actuators configured to operate the movable members, and (ii) a source of hydraulic fluid, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: determine a task to be performed by the robot, where the task includes a plurality of phases; cause hydraulic fluid having a first pressure level to flow from the source to the hydraulic actuators for the robot to perform a first phase of the plurality of phases of the task; based on a second phase of the task, determine a second pressure level for the hydraulic fluid; and adjust, based on the second pressure level, operation of the hydraulic system before the robot begins the second phase of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary John Jackowski, Alex Yu Khripin, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Patent number: 9662788
    Abstract: A communication draw-in system that enables robot-human communication to start smoothly is provided. The communication draw-in system is a communication draw-in system provided in a robot that communicates with a target human, and includes: a human specifying unit 200 for specifying a position of the target human; a light source control unit 201 for moving light toward the specified position of the target human; a draw-in control unit 203 for instructing the robot to perform a draw-in operation for making the target human recognize a direction of the robot; and a human recognition specifying unit 204 for determining whether or not the target human has recognized the robot, wherein the robot is instructed to start communicating with the target human, in the case where the target human is determined to have recognized the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 9662789
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a robot system including one or more work facilities and a teaching information database. The work facilities comprise a robot and robot controller. The robot controller controls the movement of the robot based on teaching information stored in a storage part. The teaching information database stores a plurality of types of the teaching information associated with work information. Each work facility includes an interface device configured to receive an input of search condition information, to search teaching information highly relevant to the search condition information among the plurality of types of teaching information, and to receive a selection of desired teaching information among one or more sets of the teaching information hit in the search. The robot system further comprises a first transferring part configured to transfer the teaching information from the teaching information database to the storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Taro Namba, Tomohiro Ueno, Osamu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9662790
    Abstract: A robot controller and a robot system capable of stably changing the orientation of a front end of a robot by applying a force to the front end, and moving each axis to a desired position. The robot controller for moving the robot based on the force applied to the robot includes a control point specifying part which specifies a control point in relation to the robot, and an operation commanding part which outputs a command so that the robot performs rotational movement about the control point. The robot has a structure constituted by sequentially combining three or more axes including at least three rotation axes, and rotation centerlines of the three rotation axes intersect at an origin of a centerline-intersecting axis, the centerline-intersecting axis corresponding to one of the three rotation axes. The control point specifying part specifies the origin of the centerline-intersecting axis as the control point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Iwatake
  • Patent number: 9662791
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for self-righting a robotic device are provided. An example method may include determining an orientation of a bottom surface of a legged robotic device with respect to a ground surface. The method may also include determining that the robotic device is in an unstable position, based on the determined orientation. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the robotic device to a stable position. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position. The method may also include performing a second action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position, if the legged robotic device is in the unstable position after the first action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Douglas Perkins, Matthew Malchano, Shervin Talebinejad
  • Patent number: 9662792
    Abstract: A control system may receive a first plurality of measurements indicative of respective joint angles corresponding to a plurality of sensors connected to a robot. The robot may include a body and a plurality of jointed limbs connected to the body associated with respective properties. The control system may also receive a body orientation measurement indicative of an orientation of the body of the robot. The control system may further determine a relationship between the first plurality of measurements and the body orientation measurement based on the properties associated with the jointed limbs of the robot. Additionally, the control system may estimate an aggregate orientation of the robot based on the first plurality of measurements, the body orientation measurement, and the determined relationship. Further, the control system may provide instructions to control at least one jointed limb of the robot based on the estimated aggregate orientation of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Khripin, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Patent number: 9662793
    Abstract: The stack gripper is provided in a robot to pick up and transport a box stack includes a fixing frame connected to a robot, a fixing panel provided at a lower portion of the fixing frame, a horizontal pressing member provided at the lower portion of the fixing frame to face the fixing panel and to be moved horizontally on the fixing frame, a vertical pressing member provided at a lower portion of the fixing frame to be moved vertically, and a fork member provided at the fixing frame to face the vertical pressing member and to be moved horizontally on the fixing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Woosung Autocon Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sam Whan Min
  • Patent number: 9662794
    Abstract: A robotic finger is provided. The robotic finger includes a first member that has a plurality of rigid sections that are rotatably connected end-to-end through respective first joints. The robotic finger also includes a second member that has a plurality of flexible sections that are connected end-to-end at respective second joints. The robotic finger also includes a plurality of linkages connecting the first member and the second member so as to align the plurality of flexible sections with the plurality of rigid sections side-by-side, and a respective linkage connects a respective first joint of the first member to a respective second joint of the second member. The robotic finger further includes a fingertip section that connects a distal end the first member to a distal end of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Strauss, Michael Patrick Murphy
  • Patent number: 9662795
    Abstract: A cover attachment structure for attaching a cover to a predetermined component of a robot includes a first component, a second component and a third component. The first component is disposed to the predetermined component of the robot. The second component is disposed to an inner part of the cover. The first component and the second component are engaged with each other through the third component. The first component and the second component are drawn to each other by the third component in a manner that the predetermined component and the cover are brought close to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9662796
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to blades for utility knives, craft knives, box cutters, and other cutting tools. Specifically, this invention relates to cutting blades manufactured from ceramics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Scimone, Scott Herbst, Alan Regala
  • Patent number: 9662797
    Abstract: A guard device for a saw system in which the table saw is not operated without a saw blade guard, unless a user intends to make a non-through cut in a workpiece. The guard device, in one embodiment, determines whether an adjusted saw blade height corresponds to a thickness of the work piece to be cut and prevents the tool or motor driving the saw blade from operating if the saw blade is adjusted too high, in order to improve work conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Dammertz, Juergen Wiker
  • Patent number: 9662798
    Abstract: Micro-cutting machines for forming cuts in catheters, guidewires, and similar products, are disclosed, including a micro-cutting machine that can directly control the dimensions of the resultant beams being cut into products, and that can capture images of each cut for feedback control and accuracy verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Scientia Vascular LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Christian, Ryan Christian, James A. Gasbarro, Scott K. Boehmke, John Lippert
  • Patent number: 9662799
    Abstract: A band saw is includes a driving wheel and a driven wheel rotatably provided at a saw housing; an endless saw band made to run around the driving wheel and the driven wheel; and a plurality of saw band guiding devices for directing and guiding cutting edges of the saw band toward a direction of a workpiece to be cut. The saw band guiding devices are constructed to be movable in directions where one of the guiding devices gets closer to and away from another of the guiding devices, wherein each of the saw band guiding devices includes vibrating means for vibrating the saw band in a cutting direction relative to the workpiece. A pressure member holder including a plurality of pressure rollers or a pressure member for pressing a back surface of the saw band is provided in each of the saw band guiding devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: AMADA COMPANY, LIMITED, AMADA MACHINE TOOLS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akio Seto, Susumu Tadano