Patents Issued in March 20, 2018
  • Patent number: 9919399
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to roll polishers that may be utilized with rollers in rolling stands that have restrictive space requirements. The roll polisher of the present invention comprises a tube with pivot actuators used to engage and disengage a rolling pad on the surface of a roller. Transverse actuators may be located at least partially within the tube, or in other embodiments located outside of the tube, and used to move the tube, and thus, the rolling pad, transversely back and forth across the surface of the roller. The roll polisher may operate apply a force to the pad engaging the rolling surface to remove defects and smooth the surface of the polisher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: NUCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Buxton, Jason D. Barron
  • Patent number: 9919400
    Abstract: A surface preparation apparatus has a drive-on wheeled vehicle with a surface preparation tool attached thereto. The surface preparation tool can move vertically and can rotate about two separate axes relative to the wheeled vehicle. The surface preparation tool therefore can float over the contour of a floor being treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dickson Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne E. Dickson
  • Patent number: 9919401
    Abstract: A handheld abrader has a body, a driving device, an eccentric device, and a grinding tray. The body has a handle and a gun body. The driving device is mounted in the gun body and has a driving shaft. The eccentric device is connected to the driving device and has a transmitting sheath, a transmitting shaft, and an eccentric sleeve. The transmitting sheath is connected to the driving shaft and has two positioning recesses and a receiving chamber. The transmitting shaft has at least one engaging face. The eccentric sleeve is movably mounted around the transmitting sheath and has at least one positioning slice abutting against the transmitting sheath in one of the positioning recesses and an engaging ring mounted in the eccentric sleeve, mounted around the transmitting shaft, and having at least one pressing arm selectively pressed against the transmitting shaft at the at least one engaging face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Techway Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih Hua Hsu, Jui Heng Lin, Chen Chen Cheng
  • Patent number: 9919402
    Abstract: A practical method of polishing a wafer that can reduce wafer loss due to dummy polishing, and stabilize the LPD count in production wafers at a low level, is provided. In the method of polishing a wafer according to the present disclosure, a wafer 104 is brought into contact with a polishing cloth 112 provided on the surface of a polishing plate 110, and the wafer 104 and the polishing plate 110 are rotated, thereby performing several rounds of a polishing process on the surface of the wafer 104 using the same polishing cloth 112. At this time, the contact angle of the polishing cloth is measured, and based on the measured value thereof, the timing for a switchover from an initial polishing (or a dummy polishing) mode to a production polishing mode is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomonori Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9919403
    Abstract: When a polishing pad is attached to a polishing table, the polishing pad can be easily positioned on and attached to the polishing table and air pockets are prevented from forming. As a position guide member 130 is inserted into a guide hole 109 with an attachment surface of a polishing pad 108 downward, the polishing pad 108 is positioned on and attached to a polishing table 110. At this time, the guide hole 109 of the polishing pad 108 is guided by the position guide member 130 and the polishing pad 108 is easily positioned so as to match the upper surface of the polishing table 110 with the outer periphery thereof. Then, as release paper is gradually peeled off from a rear surface of the polishing pad 108, the portion where the release paper is peeled off is attached to the polishing table 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Hamaura, Takeshi Sakurai, Suguru Ogura
  • Patent number: 9919404
    Abstract: A method for machining a material, in particular steel, is provided. The material is milled at such a high cutting speed that residual tensile stresses close the surface that exceed a specified value can occur and the residual tensile stresses can be lowered below the specified value by subsequent brushing. A device for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter David, Wolfram Knoche
  • Patent number: 9919405
    Abstract: A conditioning device complements a silencer with higher sound attenuation and also allows the silencer to better withstand abrasion of grit entrained exhaust air flow from decompressing an airblast pot. The device is configured to achieve four functions. First is to control and direct the exhaust air flow. Second is to absorb the impact of the entrained particles. Third is to diffuse and slow down the exhaust air velocity. Fourth is to direct and deflect the sound waves to the sound absorption surfaces located downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: Phuong Taylor Nguyen, Antony Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9919406
    Abstract: To provide an abrasive material with improved adhesion strength of an abrasive part to a substrate and durable to a severe abrasive work with applying high load and a long time abrading work. The abrasive material product comprises a substrate and an abrasive part having a plurality of shaped structures projecting from the substrate and is characterized in that the abrasive part comprises (1) an upper layer composed of a cured material of a mixture containing abrasive particles dispersed in a resin and (2) a lower layer composed of a cured material of a binder agent containing a radiation-curable monomer and/or oligomer and a thermosetting resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michihiro Ohishi, Yoko Togashi, Yasuhiko Nagano
  • Patent number: 9919407
    Abstract: A flexible abrasive (10) with a preset shape corresponding to the shape of the operating head of a machine tool such as a sanding machine and comprising a first support (16) made from a woven or non-woven material where a lower surface can be fixed to a backing plate or a pad of the operating head. The abrasive surface is made from at least two strips (20-23) applied side by side and parallel to each other and where the second support (11) of each strip (20-23) is separately fixed on the first support (16), and where the abrasive surface (18) is shaped so that it can be applied to the backing plate or pad of the operating head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ABRA ON S.R.L.
    Inventor: Michele Gottardelli
  • Patent number: 9919408
    Abstract: Staple gun for driving staples into a workpiece includes a frame with a driver conveyable upward and downward. In the downward movement, the driver executes a drive stroke driving the staple. In the upward movement, an activation member conveys the driver to a highest height and releases the driver to execute the drive stroke. An elongated elastic member has a first end coupled to the driver and a second end to a bearing pin assigned to the frame. A first breakpoint pin is placed between the bearing pin and the driver at a first distance from the bearing pin, and a second breakpoint pin between the driver and the first breakpoint pin is arranged at a second distance from the bearing pin and is movable between first and second positions disengaging and engaging the elastic member, respectively. The first distance is related to the highest height as 1.6-2.0:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Isaberg Rapid AB
    Inventor: Jan Ebbesson
  • Patent number: 9919409
    Abstract: An electric power tool has a tool housing and a drive motor configured to drive an insert tool. The drive motor is switched on and off by an electric switch actuated by a switching device. The switching device has at least one switching slide with a first end and a second end. The first end has a receiver configured to receive an operating element. The second end is connected to an actuating element configured to actuate the electric switch. The receiver has a first region that tapers into a second region. The operating element has a connecting web connected to a holding element. The holding element has an extent that is less than or equal to an assigned extent of the first region. The connecting web has an extent that is less than or equal to an assigned extent of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schomisch, Manfred Lutz
  • Patent number: 9919410
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical tool having a motor, a transmission mechanism, a control device, and a function member. The motor drives the function member to move in a reciprocating manner via the transmission mechanism. The function member has a standard position and the control device controls the motor. The control device at least has an associated position sensor capable of detecting a position of the function member. The method for controlling the electrical tool includes at least a reset movement process that is used to reset the function member to the standard position after the function member completes more than one cycle of reciprocating movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Chervon (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Wu Chen, Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 9919411
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing having a front portion and a handle portion. The front portion defines a cavity that encloses a motor and includes a gripping portion surrounding the cavity. An insulating cover is provided on the gripping portion of the housing and includes a gripping surface. A thermoelectric cooling unit is located between the gripping portion of the housing and the insulating cover. The thermoelectric cooling unit has a cold side positioned in thermal contact with an inner surface of the insulating cover and a hot side positioned in contact with an outer surface of the gripping portion of the housing. The thermoelectric cooling unit is configured to absorb thermal energy from the insulating cover via the cold side of the thermoelectric cooling unit and to release the absorbed heat via the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick M. McAuliffe, Roger N. Amrol, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9919412
    Abstract: A handle for actuating a removable instrument formed by a rod extended by an active area, said rod extending in a longitudinal direction OX, said rod having at least one means for mechanically coupling with said handle, characterized in that said handle has a transverse insertion slot, symmetrical relative to a plane YOZ, wherein the axis OY is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis OX, said slot opening onto a surface of the handle and having a section corresponding to the section of the coupling area of said rod, in order to allow said coupling area to be inserted by way of a movement in a direction OY, until it butts against the bottom of said slot, said bottom extending in a plane parallel to the plane XOZ, wherein XOZ designates a plane perpendicular to the axis OY.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SAFE ORTHOPAEDICS
    Inventor: Dominique Petit
  • Patent number: 9919413
    Abstract: A counterbalanced chainsaw mount is provided that includes a pin joint, a suspended counterweight, and a counterweight support assembly between the pin joint and counterweight. The chainsaw mount assists cutting a work piece with a chainsaw, controlling the cutting motion and counterbalancing the chainsaw to prevent kickback. The pin joint is secured to a work table or alternative support, whereby the support assembly secures at one end to the guide bar of the chain saw. Along an opposite end, the support assembly supports the counterweight. The support assembly comprises an intermediate member extending along the chainsaw guide bar and an upstanding member supporting the counterweight. The counterweight is positioned an offset distance away from the distal end of the chainsaw guide bar such that the intermediate member is biased to rotate about the pin joint and therefore elevate the proximal end of the chainsaw guide bar while attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Smollar
  • Patent number: 9919414
    Abstract: A tool cabinet includes a cabinet body having two guide rails, a movable storage unit having two extension members that are coupled respectively to the guide rails, two lifting units, and two driving units. Each lifting units has a guide tube mounted to one of the cabinet body and the storage unit, a threaded member non-rotatably connected to the guide tube, and a threaded rod mounted to the other one of the cabinet body and the storage unit and connected threadedly to the threaded member, such that rotation of the threaded rods drives the movement of the storage unit between lowered and lifted positions. The driving units are configured to synchronously drive the rotations of the threaded rods of the lifting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Chia-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 9919415
    Abstract: A combined tool storage container includes a first storage container and a locking device. The first storage container defines a first storage recess and includes a first clipping member. The first storage recess is adjacent to a first channel. The locking device is slidably connected to the first storage container and includes a first locking portion and a second locking portion. The first locking portion is inserted through the first channel. The first locking portion is movable between a locked position and a released position and selectively covers the first storage recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Cheng-Wei Su
  • Patent number: 9919416
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a robotic system that provides feedback. The robotic system is configured to receive information related to a path in an environment of the robotic system. The robotic system is also configured to initiate a recording process for storing data related to motion of a component in the environment. The robotic system is additionally configured to detect, during the recording process, movement of the component along the path in the environment, where the movement results from application of an external force to the robotic system. The robotic system is further configured to determine, during the recording process, deviation of the movement away from the path by at least a threshold amount and responsively provide feedback including one or more of (i) resisting the deviation of the movement away from the path and (ii) guiding the at least one component back towards the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Bingham, Rob Wilson
  • Patent number: 9919417
    Abstract: A direction-adjustable jig is capable of translating an artifact between two mutually perpendicular planes in a three-dimensional space. The jig includes a base, a sliding member, and a hinge member. The base has a pair of side walls each having a first guiding portion. The first guiding portion has a lower guiding portion and an upper guiding portion in communication with each other. The lower guiding portion and the upper guiding portion are formed at different height vertically. The sliding member is disposed reciprocatingly on the base and in between the side walls. The hinge member is pivotally connected to the sliding member and has a pair of second guiding portions for engaging the first guiding portions. The reciprocating motion of the sliding member allows the hinge member to rotate above the base and change its direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONCRAFT HOLDING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Chia Lai, Chin-Hsing Lee, Tong Su, Jie Wu
  • Patent number: 9919418
    Abstract: A piezoelectric driving device includes a vibrating plate, a first piezoelectric vibrating body which is disposed on the first surface of the vibrating plate; a second piezoelectric vibrating body which is disposed on the second surface of the vibrating plate; and a protrusion which is provided on the vibrating plate and comes into contact with a body to be driven, wherein the first piezoelectric vibrating body and the second piezoelectric vibrating body have asymmetry that the first piezoelectric vibrating body and the second piezoelectric vibrating body are asymmetrical to each other with respect to the vibrating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuharu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9919419
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot, a control apparatus that controls the robot, a teaching apparatus having a first operation part that makes an emergency stop of a motion of the robot and teaching the motion of the robot, and an emergency stop processing apparatus having a second operation part that continues the motion of the robot after the first operation part is operated, wherein the second operation part is separately provided from the control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9919420
    Abstract: Mobile robots and methods involving mobile robots are provided. One of the mobile robots electronically presents information using a user interface, where the information is indicative of at least one task. The user interface, for example, may present the information in a visual form with a display screen. The user interface receives a selection of the task. The mobile robot thereafter autonomously performs at least a portion of the selected task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Daniel Theobald
  • Patent number: 9919421
    Abstract: A dummy tool is used to teach a robot the path the robot will follow to perform work on a workpiece to eliminate the possibility of damaging an actual tool during the training. The dummy tool provides the robot programmer an indication of potential collisions between the tool and the workpiece and other objects in the work cell when path is being taught. The dummy tool can have a detachable input/output device with a graphic user interface (GUI) that can communicate wirelessly with the robot controller. The dummy tool can also have a moveable camera attached thereto to track the relationship of the tool to objects in the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gregory F. Rossano, Remus Boca, Srinivas Nidamarthi, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge
  • Patent number: 9919422
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to methods and systems to prevent damage in robots. In particular, a robotic system may include a particular component that is moveable along one or more degrees of freedom (DOFs) each providing a respective range of motion (ROM) of the particular component. This robotic system may detect movement of the particular component along a particular DOF and may responsively determine mechanical feedback characteristics that define, for each of one or more positions of the particular component along the respective ROM provided by the particular DOF, a force to be provided by at least one actuator coupled to the particular component. So during the movement, the robotic system may determine a particular position of the particular component along the respective ROM and, based on the particular position, the robotic system may direct an actuator to provide a force in accordance with the determined mechanical feedback characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Adam Edward Horton
  • Patent number: 9919423
    Abstract: A positioning device is adapted for positioning a tool at a setpoint position on a flat substrate in an X-Y plane, the tool exerting a process force in its axial direction perpendicularly onto the substrate. The tool includes a multicomponent force sensor to measure unwanted process-force components in the lateral direction. The setpoint position of the tool is correctable by the positioning device such that the lateral process-force components are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ETEL S.A.
    Inventors: Hélène Mazerolle, Jean-Marc Vaucher, Marc Kunze, Laurent Heiniger
  • Patent number: 9919424
    Abstract: Example methods and systems are disclosed for performing automated tasks with a robot system. In one example, a robot system includes a robotic arm and an end-effector coupled to the robotic arm. The end-effector is actuatable among more than two states of actuation. The robot system also includes an analog control switch located on the end-effector. The analog control switch is actuatable among more than two switch positions. The analog control switch is configured such that actuation of the analog control switch among the more than two switch positions causes a corresponding actuation of the end-effector among the more than two states of actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Roman Devengenzo
  • Patent number: 9919425
    Abstract: An autonomous robot comprises a robot body, a drive configured to propel the robot, a sensor system disposed on the robot body, and a navigation controller circuit in communication with the drive and the sensor system. The sensor system comprises at least one proximity sensor comprising a sensor body, and a first emitter, a second emitter and a receiver housed by the sensor body, wherein the receiver detects objects in a bounded detection volume of the receiver field of view aimed outward and downward beyond a periphery of the robot body. The receiver is disposed above and between the first and second emitters, the emitters having a twice-reshaped emission beams angled upward to intersect the receiver field of view at a fixed range of distances from the periphery of the robot body to define the bounded detection volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Bushman, James Herman, Seth Blitzblau, Nathan J. Deschaine, Andrew Scott Reichel
  • Patent number: 9919426
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling a robotic device, comprising the steps of, receiving at a computing device at least one command arranged to effect an operation on the robotic device, reviewing the command to determine whether the command is suitable for execution, wherein the command is provided to the device only if the command is suitable for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: C2 Systems Limited
    Inventor: James Robert Storr
  • Patent number: 9919427
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving, from a sensor, an image of an environment, where the environment includes a robotic device. The method also includes determining, based on the received image of the environment, a pose of the robotic device relative to the sensor. The method further includes determining, based on the pose of the robotic device relative to the sensor, respective positions of a plurality of trajectory points for the robotic device relative to the sensor. The method additionally includes providing for display of the image of the environment and an overlaid plurality of virtual trajectory points corresponding to the plurality of trajectory points, where the plurality of virtual trajectory points are positioned in the image based on the determined respective positions of the plurality of trajectory points for the robotic device relative to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Matthieu Guilbert
  • Patent number: 9919428
    Abstract: An automated machining head with vision and procedure includes a pressure foot provided with side windows with the capacity to open and close, encasing the machining tool, associated with a vertical movement device provided with mechanical locking, vision equipment connected to a computer and a communications module. The main advantage is endowing an anthropomorphic robot, originally designed for the car industry and with relatively low accuracy, with a notably higher machining accuracy, equivalent to equipment of a much greater accuracy or to parallel kinematic-type robots, also compensating, in real-time and in a continuous manner, for off-centring and loss of perpendicularity by the pressure foot, which are common in conventional heads and are a source of errors and inaccuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Loxin 2002, S.L.
    Inventors: Jordi Anducas Aregall, Carlos Ganchegui Iturria, Jose Javier Galarza Cambra
  • Patent number: 9919429
    Abstract: A robot (2000) includes a face unit (2020), a temperature distribution detection unit (2040), a head direction calculation unit (2060), and a first face direction change unit (2080). The temperature distribution detection unit (2040) includes a plurality of photo-detectors disposed in a grid form. The temperature distribution detection unit (2040) detects a temperature distribution of a detection region by using the plurality of photo-detectors. The head direction calculation unit (2060) calculates a direction in which a person's head is located, on the basis of the temperature distribution detected by the temperature distribution detection unit (2040). The first face direction change unit (2080) directs the face unit (2020) in the direction calculated by the head direction calculation unit (2060).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 9919430
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an apparatus, system and method for providing an end effector. The end effector may be capable of accommodating semiconductor wafers of varying sizes, and may include: a wafer support; a bearing arm capable of interfacing with at least one robotic element, and at least partially bearing the wafer support at one end thereof; a plurality of support pads on the wafer support for physically interfacing with a one of the semiconductor wafers; and a low friction moving clamp driven bi-directionally along a plane at least partially provided by the bearing arm, wherein the low friction moving clamp retractably applies force to a proximal edge of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Jabil Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Bosboom, Babak Naderi, Richard Munro, Tatiana Pankova Major
  • Patent number: 9919431
    Abstract: A charge feeding system includes: a frame extending in a direction parallel to a direction of gravity; a plurality of grippers which are attached to the frame, spaced apart from one another in the extension direction of the frame, and independently open and close to grip charges loaded in a charge loading unit; a tray configured to pass through locations where the grippers are disposed along the extension direction of the frame, and transfer the charges between the grippers; and a controller configured to control opening and closing of the grippers and movement of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: HANWHA LAND SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaeyi Oh, Sehoon Cho, Jinkook Lim, Seungryul Oh
  • Patent number: 9919432
    Abstract: The paver moving tool (10) includes a suction head (12), a shaft (24) secured to the suction head (12), a lift-handle (30) secured to a top end (28) of the shaft (24), and one of a first and a second rechargeable vacuum power pack (34, 50) operably coupled in fluid communication with the suction head (12) for selectively applying a vacuum force through the suction head (12) to an adjacent paver (20). The rechargeable vacuum power packs (34, 50) are supported on either the shaft (24), the lift handle (30) or on a backpack (53) on an operator of the self-powered paver moving tool (10) while the operator is using the tool (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: David Paul Morin, Thomas Michael Morin
  • Patent number: 9919433
    Abstract: The present invention comprises: a fixed four-node link in which four links are joined together in a hinged fashion, comprising a fixed link of which the position is fixed, a connecting rod positioned on the opposite side of the first link, an input-side transmission link connecting the end on one side of the connecting rod and the first link, and an output-side transmission link positioned on the opposite side of the input-side transmission link; an input link part to which an actuator is attached, and which is joined in hinged fashion between the two ends of the input-side transmission link; and an output link part which is fixedly joined to the output-side transmission link and is rotated by means of the output-side transmission link, and the one-degree-of-freedom link device according to the present invention and the robot arm using the same can be used to allow easy attachment and detachment between link devices and achieve smooth action in a robot arm in accordance with what is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY ERICA CAMPUS
    Inventors: Youngjin Choi, Byung-Ju Yi, Hoyul Lee
  • Patent number: 9919434
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an articulated arm (100) comprising at least three articulations mounted in series in order to allow movements on at least two rotation axes by articulation, characterized in that each articulation (1) comprises a first (2) and second (3) support and at least three linear actuators (10), each linear actuator (10) having a first and second end articulated respectively on the first (2) and second (3) supports by means of a swivel connection (41, 42, 43, 44) and in that it comprises a deformable fluidtight sheath (200) enveloping at least a plurality of articulations and having a volume enabling it, in any circumstance, to follow the movements imparted by the articulated arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Frédéric Rey, Slim Alouani
  • Patent number: 9919435
    Abstract: A utility tool that combines several features, including a folding cutting blade, a putty knife or painter's multitool, and a finger loop that aids with manipulation of the utility tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Enguita
  • Patent number: 9919436
    Abstract: A utility tool comprising a body having a first end and a second end positioned on opposite ends of the body; a removable device; as well as a first tool and a second tool configured to be selectively coupled to each other or one of either the first end and second end of the body. The utility tool includes a removable blade cartridge having a blade cartridge body having a recess slot and a knife slot, a knife blade and a guide. The knife blade is positionable within the recess slot and slides between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Johnson, Idriss Mansouri-Chafik, Skye David Barcus
  • Patent number: 9919437
    Abstract: A personal care device comprising a main housing, a hair-cutting module displaceable with respect to the main housing against spring force in a direction parallel to a main axis, and a sensor comprising a first sensor unit connected to the main housing and a second sensor unit connected to the hair-cutting module. The hair cutting module is also tiltable in directions relative to the main housing. By measuring average displacement of the hair cutting module at multiple locations, the sensor is sensitive only to displacement parallel to the main axis. The sensor measures such displacement and determines the force needed to effect such displacement. If the force is larger than a predetermined value, a warning signal will be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Eddy Gerrit Veltman, Hedzer Durksz, Matthijs Jaap Wolter Ten Hove, Liesbet Hillechina Wind
  • Patent number: 9919438
    Abstract: A personal grooming assembly facilitates shaving a user's head. The assembly includes a housing that may be gripped thereby facilitating the housing to be positioned on the user's body. A clipping unit is movably coupled to the housing. The clipping unit cuts hair when the housing is positioned on the user's body. A vacuum unit is coupled to the housing to vacuum hair clippings when the hair is cut. Thus, the hair clippings are removed from the user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Dave Knapp
  • Patent number: 9919439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cordless vacuum haircut kit. The cordless vacuum haircut kit includes a front upper housing, a back upper housing, a lower housing and a first motor. The cordless vacuum haircut kit is provided with an air flow chamber, a hair suction port, an air outlet and a hair storage chamber. The hair storage chamber is provided with a window, a wind impeller driven by a second motor and an exhaust outlet. The invention is integral, small in volume, and convenient in operation and has function of broken hair suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Anming Fu
  • Patent number: 9919440
    Abstract: In a frame body, a first outer frame portion and a second outer frame portion are connected together by a third outer frame portion and a fourth outer frame portion, which are located on the left side and the right side of the cutting edges in a main body, respectively, so that the main body is surrounded by the outer frame portions. This improves the rigidity of the frame body, thereby stabilizing the shaving plane, which links together the skin contact portion of the first outer frame portion, the cutting edges of the blade bodies, and the skin contact portion of the second outer frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kai R & D Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Haba
  • Patent number: 9919441
    Abstract: A guard is provided to fit over a blade-retaining portion of a razor configured for wet shaving. The guard may comprise a frame defined by top and bottom rails, vertically spaced by first and second side edges and a plurality of elongated members defining a grate. Means for compressibly securing the guard over the blade-retaining portion of a razor chosen from a disposable and cartridge-type razor are disposed along the length of at least one of the top and bottom rails. When disposed over the blade retaining portion, the grate portion of the guard spaces any blades retained in the razor from the surface of a user's skin while still leaving such blades at least partially exposed to the user's facial or body hair. This enables a user to trim, rather than fully shave, his hair and further protects the user's skin from the harmful effects of close shaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Eran Drori
  • Patent number: 9919442
    Abstract: The cutting device can be used to slice, make julienne strips, and/or dice food items. In dicing, preferably the horizontal slicer blade is retracted during a first pass of the slider past the julienne blades, and after the slider has been rotated by 90°, during a second pass, the horizontal blade is erected to make the horizontal cut and complete the dicing operation. A slicing width adjustment is provided with a large diameter threaded member being adjustable to support a movable platform, with an adjustable locking mechanism to support the end of the platform nearest the horizontal cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Rodney W. Robbins
  • Patent number: 9919443
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for sheet registration in a tractorless sheet processing device using existing sheet features are disclosed herein. In some aspects, the systems can include a tractorless sheet processing device having a cutter for cutting individual sheets from continuous form material and a cutter feeder for feeding the continuous form material to the cutter. The systems can also include a camera disposed relative to the cutter feeder and configured to capture an image of a position of at least one existing sheet feature on at least one or more of the individual sheets of the continuous form material in order to synchronously register each of the individual sheets with the cutter, and a controller including at least one hardware processor and memory, the controller being configured to interface with the camera and the tractorless sheet processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bell and Howell, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Zuech, Mark Burgess, William V. Pickering, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9919444
    Abstract: A system for generating a repair patch for a damaged area of a composite structure may include a scanning module, a repair patch model generator and a cutting tool. The scanning module may be deployed at the location of the damaged composite structure. The scanning module may be configured to scan the damaged area to generate scanned data indicative of a shape, size and/or contours of the damaged area. The repair patch model generator may include processing circuitry configured to obtain the scanned data, obtain parent ply information of the damaged composite structure, and generating a patch model of a repair patch including size and shape definition for each of a plurality of plies based on the scanned data and the parent ply information. The cutting tool may be configured to receive cutting files based on the patch model to generate a plurality of cut plies that combine to form the repair patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: John Tomblin, Brian M. Brown, Lamia Salah
  • Patent number: 9919445
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting food objects conveyed from an inlet conveyor to an adjacent outlet conveyor. A moving mechanism is operably connected to the outlet conveyor to provide movement of the inlet end of the outlet conveyor from an adjacent position. The inlet end of the outlet conveyor is moved from a position adjacent to the outlet end of the inlet conveyor to an open position and back to an adjacent position. A cutting device cuts the food objects into portions and trim. A control unit controls the moving mechanism to move the inlet end of the outlet conveyor to an open position when separating trim portions to fall as desired and subsequently instructs the inlet end the outlet conveyor to move back to the adjacent position before the next cutting to provide a support for the remaining parts of the food object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Marel A/S
    Inventors: Peter Mikkelsen, Tomas Finne Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9919446
    Abstract: A food processing system includes a food slicing machine having a control arrangement for regulating a thickness of slices cut by the machine so that they are cut according to a current value of a slice size parameter. An under-weight signal is generated which is responsive to generation of any under-weight groups of slices by the slicing machine, and an end-of-line weighing device monitors the weight of groups of slices outputted by the system and generates an end-of-line weight signal responsive thereto. The system identifies any under-weight groups of slices so that their weight can be increased by addition of a further slice before being outputted by the system. The control arrangement receives the two signals and determines the value of the slice size parameter having regard to them. The slice size parameter may be adjusted to minimize give-away by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Thurne-Middleby Ltd
    Inventor: Richard David Seager
  • Patent number: 9919447
    Abstract: A method and a device for fracture splitting a connecting rod and a connecting rod formed therefrom are provided, in which a force exerted on an outer rim of an eye of the connecting rod by a separating tool is generated by an electromagnetic force. The separating tool includes at least two separating members inserted into the eye, and the electromagnetic force is generated by displacing the at least two separating members away from each other inside the eye in response to application of the electromagnetic force. The electromagnetic force may be generated by passing current through coils positioned between the at least two separating members in a manner that causes the coils to repel one another, preferably with a pulse duration of less than 100 microseconds, in order to minimize plastic deformation at the fracture locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Netumayer Tekfor Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Hansmaier, Volker Szentmihalyi
  • Patent number: 9919448
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and process for handling and/or manufacturing articles. At least one article support configured to support an article is coupled to a transfer beam configured to reciprocally move along a first axis. The reciprocal movement of the transfer beam moves the at least one article support between two stations, such that an article supported by the article support may be conveyed between the two stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bohnert Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Ericus Andreas van Kleef