Patents Issued in January 9, 2024
  • Patent number: 11865670
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for removal of wheel rim burr which comprises a main body, plural positioning wheels, an eccentric wheel disposed on the main body, and at least two brush wheels disposed between two corresponding positioning wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alex Global Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 11865671
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a platen to hold a polishing pad, a carrier laterally movable by an actuator across the polishing pad to hold a substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad during a polishing process, a thermal control system including a plurality of independently controllable heaters and coolers to independently control temperatures of a plurality of zones on the polishing pad, and a controller configured to cause the thermal control system to generate a first zone having a first temperature and a second zone having a different second temperature on the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Haosheng Wu, Shou-Sung Chang, Jianshe Tang, Chih Chung Chou, Hui Chen, Hari Soundararajan, Benjamin Cherian
  • Patent number: 11865672
    Abstract: PDCs, methods of fabricating the PDCs, and methods of using the PDCs are disclosed herein. The PDCs include a PCD table bonded to a substrate. The PCD table includes an upper surface having a plurality of recessed features formed therein. The plurality of recessed features are configured to attract at least some cracks that form in the PCD table. As such, the plurality of recessed features limit or prevent crack propagation into other portions of the PCD table and limit a volume of the PCD table that spalls. Methods of fabricating the PDCs include partially leaching the PCD table and, after leaching the PCD table, forming the plurality of recessed features in the upper surface thereof. Method of using the PDCs include rotating a PDC that has spalled relative to a rotary drill bit such that a portion of the upper surface of the PDC that has not spalled forms a cutting surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Call Mortensen, Lindsay Sue Patton, Trevor Allen Olsen, Casey Wade Swan, Shawn Casey Scott, Matthew Kimball Baker, Anne-Grethe Slotnaes, Kenneth E. Bertagnolli, Jiang Qian, Jason Lott, Joshua Adam Hawks
  • Patent number: 11865673
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to layers comprising a body having a thickness, T, comprising a curable composition comprising a polymerizable epoxy-acrylate resin composition and abrasive particles at least partially embedded in the polymerizable epoxy-acrylate resin composition, wherein the body includes a plurality of void spaces free of the curable composition extending into the body from the first major surface and the depth of the plurality of void spaces is at least 10 percent of thickness T. The disclosure also relates to cured compositions formed from such curable compositions and, in turn, abrasive articles made from such cured compositions as well as methods for making abrasive articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Chainika Jangu, Michael J. Annen, Deborah J. Eilers, David M. Mahli, Caroline E. Morel, Kathleen S. Shafer, Gregory P. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 11865674
    Abstract: A positioning fixture including a shielding member and a driving member is provided. The shielding member includes a sliding part slidably connected to a functional module, a guiding part, and a shielding part. The sliding part and the shielding part respectively extend from two opposite ends of the guiding part. The driving member is movably disposed on the functional module corresponding to the shielding member. The driving member includes a base part, a driving part that contacts the guiding part, and a pillar part, which protrudes from the base part and is adapted to pass through the guiding groove. When the functional module is positioned on the circuit board, the base part of the driving member is pushed by the electronic component, and the guiding part is pushed by the driving part, so that the shielding member slides and the shielding part shields a screw hole of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PEGATRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Nan Chen, Ming-Te Lin, Chi-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 11865675
    Abstract: An electrically isolated socket may include a drive body, a driven body, and a body portion. The driven body may be made of first metallic material and having a driven end configured to receive a fastener. The drive body may be made of a second metallic material and having a drive end configured to receive a protrusion of a driving tool. The body portion may over-mold substantially all portions of the drive body and the driven body other than the drive end and the driven end, respectively. The drive end of the drive body and the driven end of the driven body may face away from each other, and the drive body and driven body each include axial grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Edward Heitkamp
  • Patent number: 11865676
    Abstract: An adjustable wrench (1) with a head portion (200), automatically adjustable within its size range. The fastener (80) to be operated is fitted between the fixed jaw (201) and moving jaw (300), the operators thumb pressure released, automatically propelling the moving jaw 300 towards the fixed jaw (200), the use of four workpiece contacting surfaces (202, 203, 302, 303), two within each opposing jaw (201, 300), engaging the four corresponding actual levered faces (83) to each apply a drive force to a hexagonal fastener head 81. The head portion (200) illustrated in section in order to show the gear teeth (403) on the head end (402) of the handle (400) levering closed the moving jaw (300) via its associated wedge-shaped rack gear (312).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11865677
    Abstract: Various wrenches, wrench systems, and methods of the present invention include inner and outer mouths that provide increased strength and utility. The inner mouth may be configured with an open or a closed end to receive removable open or closed end gears and perform ratcheting action when the gear seated in the inner mouth and engaged and a rotational force is applied to the gear via the wrench. The outer mouth may prevent the gear from disengaging from the inner mouth when the inner mouth is installed in the outer mouth and provide structural strength to the inner mouth when force is applied to the gear via the wrench. Various embodiments include a handle and a head, where the head includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, or belt, forming a mouth configured to receive removable open or closed end gears and perform ratcheting action when a fitting is engaged by the gear positioned in the mouth and rotational force is applied to the fitting via the gear and the wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Jeffrey Dean MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11865678
    Abstract: A ratchet mechanism of a ratchet wrench having a pawl carrier and first and second pawls. The pawl carrier includes a groove and is rotatable to cause selection of one of first and second drive directions. The first and second pawls are adapted to selectively engage with a toothed portion of a ratchet gear for selecting one of the first and second drive directions. Each of the first and second pawls includes a projection adapted to engage the groove when the pawl carrier is rotated to cause one of the first and second pawls to disengage from the toothed portion and the other of the first and second pawls to engage the toothed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: David T. Ross
  • Patent number: 11865679
    Abstract: An impact wrench is provided with a battery to power the motor. The impact wrench provides improved portability since the impact wrench does not need to be connected to an electrical extension cord or a pneumatic hose. The output drive, motor, batteries and main handle may be aligned along the axial direction of the tool. The batteries may be located between the motor and the main handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Warren A. Seith, Justin T. Chellew, Nicholas Garibaldi, Kevin M. Purdy, Mark T. McClung, Madan Kumar Mandal
  • Patent number: 11865680
    Abstract: A clutch brake removal tool configured to facilitate the removal of a single piece clutch brake from an input shaft. The clutch brake removal tool includes a rectangular shaped body having a plurality of walls forming a hollow interior volume. The body includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall and further includes a first end and a second end. The body has an opening at the second end providing access to the interior volume. The second end of the body has a leading edge wherein the leading edge is formed in a semicircular shaft so as to mateably abut against an input shaft. The first sidewall includes a first slot formed therein wherein the second end of the first slot is contiguous with the opening of the body. The second sidewall includes a second slot formed identical to the first slot and located on the opposing sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Micheal Shane Camille
  • Patent number: 11865681
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for disconnecting clips. A clip separation tool includes two arms, the arms having jaws to receive connected clips at a distal end of the arms and handle portions on a proximal end for a user to engage the tool with his hand. A pivot mechanism is coupled to the arms, where, responsive to a force applied to the handle portions, the arms rotate relative to each other around the pivot mechanism such that the distal ends of the arms pivot away from one another and the proximal ends of the arms pivot towards one another. A spring biases the arms to rotate to an equilibrium position that is attained automatically under spring loading once the proximal ends of the arms are relieved of loading. The clip separation tool disconnects connected clips as the force causes the arms to rotate around the pivot mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
    Inventor: Derrick Matthew Smith
  • Patent number: 11865682
    Abstract: An improved plier that advantageously allows a user to clinch duct for installation of duct drives in tight and hard to reach places is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the improved plier comprises at least two elongate arms comprising handle portions, elbow portions, and jaw portions. The elongate arms are hingedly connected to one another at a hinge point in the elbow portions. The jaw portions further comprise base portions and pincher portions for grasping and clamping of duct work to facilitate installation of duct drives. The pincher portions are offset from the plane of the handle portions at a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: McNew Tool Corp.
    Inventor: Elvert Fitzugh Collins
  • Patent number: 11865683
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver comprising a housing, a nosepiece coupled to the housing and extending therefrom, a driver blade movable within the nosepiece between a ready position and a driven position, and a pusher mechanism coupled to the nosepiece for individually transferring collated fasteners in a canister magazine to a driver channel in the nosepiece in which the driver blade is movable. The pusher mechanism includes a feeder arm and a linkage positioned between the feeder arm and the driver blade. The feeder arm is engageable with individual fasteners in the nosepiece for sequentially pushing each of the fasteners into the driver channel in response to movement of the feeder arm toward the driver channel. The linkage is movable to advance the feeder arm toward the driver channel in response to contact with the driver blade as the driver blade moves from the driven position toward the ready position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Travis W. Leathrum, Troy C. Thorson
  • Patent number: 11865684
    Abstract: A pneumatic electric nail gun includes a muzzle unit, a striking cylinder that is connected to the muzzle unit, a piston rod subunit that extends movably from the striking cylinder into the muzzle unit, an electric unit that drives movement of the piston rod subunit from a standby position to a nail-striking position for striking a nail, and a connecting unit that includes a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of buffer members. The fasteners extend through the electric unit and secure the electric unit to the muzzle unit. Each of the buffer members surrounds a respective one of the fasteners and fills a space between the respective one of the fasteners, the electric unit and the muzzle unit for shock absorption during a nail-striking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: An-Gi Liu, Chang-Sheng Lin, Fu-Ying Huang
  • Patent number: 11865685
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a nosepiece for receiving fasteners from a magazine, a driver blade movable from a ready position toward a driven position during which a fastener positioned in the nosepiece is driven into a workpiece, a lifting mechanism operable to return the driver blade from the driven position toward the ready position for a subsequent fastener driving operation, and a drivetrain to provide toque to the lifting mechanism. The drivetrain includes an electric motor having a motor output shaft, a first gear box coupled to the motor output shaft to receive torque therefrom, a second gear box having an output shaft coupled to the lifting mechanism to provide torque thereto, and a drive shaft having a first end coupled to the first gear box and a second end coupled to the second gear box for transferring torque from the first gear box to the second gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew P. Rux
  • Patent number: 11865686
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery-powered stapling tool. A stapling tool includes a drive wheel, a slide comprising a first slide segment and a second slide segment, and a drive shaft receivable by the slide, wherein the drive shaft is coupled to and drivable by the drive wheel such that rotation of the drive wheel in a first rotational direction moves the drive shaft from the first slide segment to the second slide segment back to the first slide segment. The stapling tool further includes a lifting element, wherein the lifting element defines the slide and is drivable by the drive shaft, and an ejector coupled to the lifting element and drivable by the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Hubschmid, Dimitrios Takidis, Michael Wettstein
  • Patent number: 11865687
    Abstract: A method for reducing vibrations in a percussion tool includes activating, using an electronic controller of the percussion tool, the motor of the percussion tool, determining, using the electronic controller, that the percussion tool is in a loaded condition, and operating, using the electronic controller, the motor in accordance with a predetermined profile in response to determining that the percussion tool is in the loaded condition. The method also includes determining, using the electronic controller, that the percussion tool is in a no-load condition and operating, using the electronic controller, the motor with reduced speed in response to determining that the percussion tool is in the no-load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew S. Zawisza, Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Ethan T. Zimany
  • Patent number: 11865688
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a housing; and a motor, a tubular tool holder, a driving mechanism, a rotation shaft, a driving mechanism housing region inside the housing. The tool holder has a distal end on which a bit is mountable. The driving mechanism is configured to hammer the bit. The rotation shaft is disposed in the driving mechanism and rotates by a rotation of an output shaft of the motor. The driving mechanism housing region houses the driving mechanism in a sealed state inside the housing. The air escape path that releases air inside the driving mechanism housing region to outside of the driving mechanism housing region is formed inside the rotation shaft while an inlet of the air escape path is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Machida, Kiyonobu Yoshikane
  • Patent number: 11865689
    Abstract: An impact rotary tool includes a hammer and an anvil that transmits rotational impact force from the hammer to a tip tool. The anvil includes a first member and a second member. The first member holds the tip tool thereon. The first member is fitted into the second member. The rotational impact force is applied to the second member. The first member and the second member are arranged to be fitted into each other in a fitting portion. The fitting portion has a tolerating mechanism. The tolerating mechanism tolerates misalignment of a first rotational axis with a second rotational axis. The first rotational axis is a rotational axis of the first member. The second rotational axis is a rotational axis of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kusagawa, Takahiro Ueda, Akiko Honda, Kimitaka Ozawa
  • Patent number: 11865690
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing, a brushless DC (BLDC) motor assembly disposed within the tool housing, and a power module including a printed circuit board (PCB) and power switches mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the motor assembly. The PCB includes a width that is greater than a diameter of the motor assembly. A mounting bracket is secured to an end of the motor assembly and includes a mating portion arranged to mate with the end of the motor assembly, mount posts extending radially-outwardly from the mating portion, and axial walls extending between outer ends of the mount posts and at least partially housing the power module to support the PCB in a substantially parallel orientation relative to the rear end of the motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Palich, Michael R. Marjomaa, Kevin L. Pulley, David J. Smith, Dennis A. Bush, Mark T. Cherry, Scott Eshlemann, Tal Gottesman
  • Patent number: 11865691
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, an output spindle extending outward from the housing and configured to be rotationally driven by the motor, a keyed chuck coupled to the output spindle for rotation with the output spindle, and a chuck key holder configured to releasably retain a chuck key with a first shaft with a key disposed thereon for operating the chuck, and a second shaft coupled to the first end portion of the first shaft generally perpendicular to the first shaft, the second shaft including a lever portion. The chuck key holder includes a first recess configured to receive the first shaft and a second recess with a sheath configured to receive the second shaft with the lever portion exposed from the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Andrew David Hamroff, Joseph Patrick Kelleher, Shihuai Wang, GaoLi Dou
  • Patent number: 11865692
    Abstract: A magnetic base for an electric machine tool, in particular for a magnetic core drilling machine. A body that is accommodated in a receiving space. At least one first magnet coil constituting an electromagnet, a coil winding of the at least one first magnet coil being wound on a bobbin and a magnetic force of which is switchable between a maximum resultant holding force and a minimum resultant holding force. The coil winding of the magnet coil has two end sections that are each connected to a connecting cable that serves to make electrical contact between the magnetic coil and the electric machine tool. The body has a first side adapted to be coupled to the electric machine tool and has an opposite second side adapted to be placed on a workpiece that is to be processed. End sections of the coil winding are connected to the connecting cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein GmbH
    Inventors: Sergej Denzel, Stefan Scherrenbacher
  • Patent number: 11865693
    Abstract: A tool that mounts on a power driver or other tool for installing framing members in a building ensures proper and uniform spacing of the framing members. A support that may be a C-shaped band clamp removably attaches to the power tool. A generally tubular gauge body snap-attaches in place and a slide member disposed within the gauge body is adjustable to extend a sufficient amount so the combined length of the tubular gauge body and the extended slide member provide a proper spacing for the framing members. A slide lock for holds the slide member at the extended position. This allows the measuring and installation to be done without the installer having to set the power tool down or use a ruler or tape measure once the spacing is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: William Phelps
  • Patent number: 11865694
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rotary driving tool for handling closure elements on vehicle containers for holding operating fluids, which are fed into the respective circuits and containers of the vehicles in the manufacturing process of the vehicles on assembly lines of the automotive industry by robot-based assemblies arranged on the assembly line from filling systems via connecting lines and adapters, wherein the robot-based assemblies are displaceable in operation between a home position and a filling position and have at least one robot arm. It is the problem of the disclosure to create such a rotary driving tool that enables automated handling of the closure elements even in confined or poorly accessible installation spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Staffa
  • Patent number: 11865695
    Abstract: A humanoid hugging assembly includes a humanoid animatronic that has a torso, a pair of arms and a pair of hands each is disposed on a respective one of the arms. The arms are positionable in a resting position having the arms extending downwardly along the torso and having a palm of each of the hands facing the torso. Each of the arms is positionable in a hugging position has each of the arms is crossed in front of the torso wherein the pair of arms is configured to embrace the user. A motion sensor is integrated into the humanoid animatronic to sense motion of the user approaching the humanoid animatronic. A motion unit is integrated into the humanoid animatronic and the motion unit actuates each of the arms into the hugging position when a predetermined duration of time has passed when motion sensor senses motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Walton Richardson
  • Patent number: 11865696
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-tiered computing environment for balancing compute resources in support of robot operations. In an example, a robot is tasked with performing an operation associated with an airplane having an airplane model. To do so, the robot may need another operation that is computationally complex to be performed. An on-premises server can execute a process that corresponds to this computationally-complex operation based on sensor data of the robot and can output the resulting data to the robot. Next, the robot can use the resulting data to execute another process corresponding to its operation and can indicate performance of this operation to the on-premises network. The on-premises network can send the indication about the operation performance to a top-tier server that is also associated with the airplane model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Wilder Systems Inc.
    Inventors: William Wilder, Spencer Voiss
  • Patent number: 11865697
    Abstract: A robot system includes an operating device that receives an operation instruction from an operator. The system further includes a real robot that is installed in a work space and performs a series of works constituted of a plurality of steps. The system further includes transmission type display device configured to allow the operator to visually recognize a real world and configured to display a virtual. The system further includes a control device configured to operate the virtual robot displayed on the transmission type display device based on instruction information input from the operating device. The control device is further configured to thereafter operate the real robot while maintaining a state that the virtual robot is displayed on the transmission type display device when operation execution information to execute an operation of the real robot is input from the operating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Watanabe, Takayuki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 11865698
    Abstract: Inspection robots with removeable interface plates and method for configuring payload interfaces are described. An example robot may include a payload, with at least one sensor, mounted to a housing of the inspection robot. The housing may include a removeable interface plate coupled to the at least one sensor and to an electronic board, the electronic board positioned within the housing. The removeable interface plate may define an electrical coupling interface compatible with the payload, and the electronic board may include an electrical processing configuration compatible with the payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Gecko Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Bryner, Edwin H. Cho, Mark Cho, Michael A. Binger, Kevin Y. Low
  • Patent number: 11865699
    Abstract: An end effector system is disclosed for a robotic system that includes a primary acquisition system that includes a primary end effector, and a secondary retention system that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the primary acquisition system, wherein at least a portion of the primary acquisition system may be drawn up within at least a portion of the secondary retention system such that the primary end effector system may be used to select an object from a plurality of objects, and the secondary retention system may be used to secure the object for rapid transport to an output destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, Christopher Geyer, Thomas Koletschka, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11865700
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of changing a tool on a programmable motion device. The method includes the steps of moving an attachment portion of an end effector of the programmable motion device in a continuous motion; while the attachment portion of the end effector moves in the continuous motion, engaging one of: the attachment portion of the end effector with the tool, or the tool attached to the attachment portion of the end effector with an exchange system, and continuing to move the attachment portion of the end effector in the continuous motion to change a connection status of the attachment portion of the end effector while the attachment portion of the end effector moves in the continuous motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, John Richard Amend, Jr., William Farmer, Andrew Gauthier, Victoria Hinchey, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, Richard Musgrave, Samuel Naseef, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11865701
    Abstract: A suction method is provided as a method of performing, by using a suction collet, suction of a Fabry-Perot interference filter including: a substrate; a laminated structure that is provided on the substrate and that includes a main surface facing a side opposite to the substrate; and a thinned portion that is located outside the laminated structure when viewed in a direction intersecting the main surface and that is recessed to a side of the substrate with respect to the main surface, the method including: a first step of arranging the suction collet so as to face the main surface; a second step of bringing the suction collet into contact with the Fabry-Perot interference filter after the first step; and a third step of suctioning the Fabry-Perot interference filter by using the suction collet after the second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Masaki Hirose, Katsumi Shibayama, Takashi Kasahara, Toshimitsu Kawai, Hiroki Oyama, Yumi Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 11865702
    Abstract: A soft bodied robotic member has the appearance of a finger and has a deformable rubber elongated body surrounding an array of rigid ribs interconnected by a perpendicular constraint. The plates form a series of parallel protrusions extending from opposed sides of the body and have a serrated, sawtooth or wavelike appearance. A tether runs through each row of protrusions and draws the corresponding protrusions together in a compressive manner to bend or dispose the finger toward the compressed side. Gaps between the protrusion allow movement of the protrusion towards adjacent protrusions to dispose the body in an arcuate shape. The constraint is a planar sheet that bends with the arc along its width, but resists lateral twisting, thus limiting movement outside a plane defined by the arc and the tether. Multiple finger members may be placed in close geometric proximity for gripping a common object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Cagdas D. Onal, Onder Ondemir, Weijia Tao
  • Patent number: 11865703
    Abstract: A flexible joint includes a plurality of links, a plurality of flexures, and at least one cable which can be tensioned or relaxed to cause a bending about a plurality of axes. The links may include a base link; a last link; and a plurality of intermediate links, coupled together by the flexures such that the plurality of intermediate links, the first link, and the last link form a chain of links having the base link at a first end of the chain and the last link at a second end of the chain and each of the plurality of intermediate links is coupled to two other ones of the plurality of links by two flexures. The cable(s) extend through cable pass-through-holes in the links. The links may comprise disks with sloped faces, and may be rotational offset from another around a longitudinal axis. The flexures may comprise living hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Connor Richard Shannon, Hatef Khadivinassab, Matthew Steven Hill
  • Patent number: 11865704
    Abstract: A joint structure includes a locking mechanism for switching a free state in which a second element is independent from a first element and capable of moving, and a locked state in which the second element is fixed to the first element. The locking mechanism includes a first member joined to the first element, a second member joined to the second element, and a flexible wire-shaped member in which one end thereof is attached to the second member and another end thereof is led out to the outside of the joint structure via a through hole provided in the first member. The joint structure enters the locked state by the wire-shaped member being pulled to bring the second member into contact with the first member, and enters the free state by the wire-shaped member being fed to separate the second member from the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Ijiri, Kazutoshi Tanaka, Felix Von Drigalski, Masashi Hamaya, Yoshiya Shibata, Chisato Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11865705
    Abstract: A teleoperated robotic system that includes master control arms, slave arms, and a mobile platform. In use, a user manipulates the master control arms to control movement of the slave arms. The teleoperated robotic system can include two master control arms and two slave arms. The master control arms and the slave arms can be mounted on the platform. The platform can provide support for the master control arms and for a teleoperator, or user, of the robotic system. Thus, a mobile platform can allow the robotic system to be moved from place to place to locate the slave arms in a position for use. Additionally, the user can be positioned on the platform, such that the user can see and hear, directly, the slave arms and the workspace in which the slave arms operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sarcos, LC
    Inventors: Fraser M. Smith, Marc X. Olivier
  • Patent number: 11865706
    Abstract: A robot includes: a moving mechanism; an elevating mechanism including columnar members; a table which is configured to be elevated and lowered by the elevating mechanism; an arm base which is configured to be elevated and lowered by the elevating mechanism; an arm which is attached to the arm base; a sensor which is configured to detect an object placed on the table and the surrounding area of the robot; and a controller. A circumscribed space circumscribing the robot except for the arm is in the shape of a cuboid having a bottom face that is a face of a quadrilateral that circumscribes, in a top view, the shape of the robot except for the arm. The arm has a structure capable of accessing the outside of the circumscribed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DAILY COLOR INC.
    Inventor: Yasunori Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11865707
    Abstract: A mobile manipulator robot for retrieving inventory items from a storage system. The robot includes a body, a wheel assembly, a sensor to locate a position of the robot within the storage system, an interface configured to send processor readable data to a remote processor and to an operator interface, and receive processor executable instructions from the remote processor and from the operator interface, an imaging device to capture images of the inventory items, a picking manipulator, first and second pneumatic gripping elements for grasping the inventory items, and a coupler configured to mate with a valve to access a pneumatic supply for operating at least one of the first or second pneumatic gripping elements. The robot is configured to transition the valve from a closed condition to an open condition and selectively place one of the first or the second pneumatic gripping elements in communication with the pneumatic supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nimble Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Kalouche
  • Patent number: 11865708
    Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a moveable robot having an image obtaining device for obtaining images of the exterior environment of the robot, and a processor programmed to detect a predetermined pattern within the obtained images. The processor and image obtaining device form at least part of a first navigation system for the robot which can determine a first estimate of at least one of the position and orientation of the robot. A second navigation system for the robot determines an alternative estimate of the at least one of the position and orientation of the robot. Calibration of the second navigation system can be performed using the first navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MTD PRODUCTS INC
    Inventor: Shai Abramson
  • Patent number: 11865709
    Abstract: Provided is an assisting torque setting apparatus and method, wherein the apparatus is configured to calculate an evaluation value of at least one index based on gait data of a user, set a stable assisting torque based on the evaluation value, set a basic assisting torque corresponding to a gait motion of the user based on the gait data, and set a final assisting torque based on the stable assisting torque and the basic assisting torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngbo Shim, Sunghwan Ahn, Seungyong Hyung, Youngjin Park, Keehong Seo, Bokman Lim
  • Patent number: 11865710
    Abstract: A vertical articulated robot includes a plurality of joint axis portions configured to rotationally drive a plurality of arms. The plurality of joint axis portions include a narrow joint axis portion. In the narrow joint axis portion, at least one of at least a portion of a brake or an oil seal is arranged inside a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshifumi Manome
  • Patent number: 11865711
    Abstract: A robot arm includes a first kinematic chain from a first actuator to an end-effector platform, providing a first degree of freedom for positioning the end-effector platform; a second kinematic chain from a second actuator to the end effector platform, providing a second degree of freedom for positioning the end effector platform; a third kinematic chain from a third actuator to the end-effector platform, providing a third degree of freedom for positioning the end-effector platform; and a fourth kinematic chain configured to transmit movement of a fourth actuator to a corresponding orientation axis of an end-effector. The fourth kinematic chain includes an orientation linkage mounted to an inner arm assemblage via at least one bearing mounted to the end-effector platform, wherein the orientation linkage includes an end-effector rotation link and joints that provide at least two degrees of freedom for each end joint of the end-effector rotation link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cognibiotics AB
    Inventors: Torgny Brogardh, Adam Nilsson, Klas Nilsson
  • Patent number: 11865712
    Abstract: An arm joint for a manipulator having a motor with a transmission, comprising a gear wheel that can rotate about a transmission axis of rotation, wherein the gear wheel is rotatably mounted in a housing of the arm joint and has an adapter on at least one of its end sides, and wherein the adapter has an opening that is central relative to the transmission axis of rotation on the side facing away from the end side of the gear wheel The central opening has an internal thread for the purpose of a simple construction, easy assembly and a great number of variation possibilities in terms of construction and application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: IGUS GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Raak, Felix Berger
  • Patent number: 11865713
    Abstract: A suspension cable robot is provided, its stability can be improved by using at least three groups of three cables arranged in a parallelogram manner. The ability to remain stable when subjected to forces acting on the robot platform or end effector is thereby significantly increased. The cable robot can be moved by cables to different working locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Patent number: 11865714
    Abstract: An apparatus for a robotic limb includes one or more limb segments connected via one or more joints. The robotic limb may feature one or more dual-reduction quasi-quasi-direct-drive joint actuators that permit the robotic limb to move throughout a scene. The robotic limb may further include an end-effector connected to a free end of the robotic limb with one or more opposable fingers comprising a four bar linkage. The end-effector may include a main actuator that actuates the one or more fingers via the four-bar linkages to complete various tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Marcel Santos, Brian Harms, Thomas Brenner, Curtis Aumiller, Jiawei Zhang, Sajid Sadi, Pranav Mistry, Forrest G. Tran, Tara Sriram, Kathleen Sofia Hajash
  • Patent number: 11865715
    Abstract: A computing system may provide a model of a robot. The model may be configured to determine simulated motions of the robot based on sets of control parameters. The computing system may also operate the model with multiple sets of control parameters to simulate respective motions of the robot. The computing system may further determine respective scores for each respective simulated motion of the robot, wherein the respective scores are based on constraints associated with each limb of the robot and a predetermined goal. The constraints include actuator constraints and joint constraints for limbs of the robot. Additionally, the computing system may select, based on the respective scores, a set of control parameters associated with a particular score. Further, the computing system may modify a behavior of the robot based on the selected set of control parameters to perform a coordinated exertion of forces by actuators of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco da Silva, Benjamin Stephens, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Yeuhi Abe
  • Patent number: 11865716
    Abstract: A system forms a part in an initial geometry (e.g., a sheet) into a desired geometry. The system includes a robot arm with an end effector, a model and a controller. The model receives an input geometry and an input parameter value indicating an interaction between the part and the end effector. The model determines an output geometry of the part based on the input geometry and the input parameter value. The controller receives the initial and desired geometries; applies the model to the initial geometry and to different input parameter values; based on output geometries of the model, determines a set of parameter values for controlling the robot arm; and controls the robot arm according to the determined set of parameter values to form the part into the desired geometry using the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Machina Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Mehr
  • Patent number: 11865717
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling movement of a cart in response to a change in a travel surface using artificial intelligence and a cart implementing the same, and in a cart robot of one embodiment, an IMU sensor senses a change in a travel surface, and an obstacle sensor senses a distance from an installed object placed in a direction of an advance of the cart robot, to control a moving part of the cart robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kangsoo Shin, Sunryang Kim, Yoonsik Kim, Joohan Kim
  • Patent number: 11865718
    Abstract: A working device includes a link actuation device and a control device for the link actuation device. The control device includes: a storage unit configured to store a plurality of the target positions; a calculation unit configured to sequentially read out the respective target positions stored to calculate movement amounts and movement speeds of the respective actuators between the target positions; and a control unit configured to operate the respective actuators by the movement amounts and at the movement speeds of the respective actuators calculated by the calculation unit. The control unit is capable of changing acceleration and deceleration times of the actuators for each of the target positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 11865719
    Abstract: According an embodiment, a work support device includes an arm unit, a brake unit, a state determination unit, and a brake control unit. The arm unit includes a grasping part configured to grasp an object, a plurality of joint parts, and a plurality of link parts actuatably coupled through each joint part. The brake unit is provided to at least one of the joint parts to restrict actuation of the arm unit. The state determination unit determines the state of the arm unit. The brake control unit controls the brake unit to restrict actuation of the arm unit in accordance with the state of the arm unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideichi Nakamoto, Akihito Ogawa, Junichiro Ooga, Hideki Ogawa, Haruna Eto, Ryosuke Higo