Sensor Contacts Item Patents (Class 209/600)
  • Publication number: 20150053595
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for inspecting a magazine including a plurality of partially-finished products. The apparatus is configured to inspect a stopper of the magazine before providing the magazine to a packaging process, and further configured to classify the stopper into a normal product. The magazine comprising the stopper classified as the normal product is into the packaging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Chang-hwan Ji, Jung-hun Choi, Sung-yeol Lee, Hee-sang Yang, Jae-nam Lee
  • Patent number: 8369985
    Abstract: A mail sorter, method, and software product are used for sorting inbound mail pieces and outbound mail pieces. The mail sorter includes sorter modules cooperatively engaged with each other, so as to receive mail pieces that are a mixture of both inbound mail pieces and outbound mail pieces, and so as to sort both the inbound mail pieces and the outbound mail pieces. The mail sorter also includes an unsorted mail piece path that is utilized by both the inbound mail pieces and the outbound mail pieces. The outbound mail pieces are mail pieces destined for sorting at a remote postal facility prior to delivery to destination addresses, whereas the inbound mail pieces are mail pieces that are not destined for sorting at a remote postal facility prior to delivery to destination addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Denis J. Stemmle
  • Publication number: 20110024336
    Abstract: Method and automatic system for the determination and the classification of foods based on a high-speed manipulation robot aided by a localization system which is capable of detecting the food which comes along a transport system in a random fashion without contact between one and the other, and to classify it; the robot incorporates a manipulation grip wherein a sensor which permits the determination and classification of the food is housed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicants: FUNDACION AZTI-AZTI FUNDAZIOA, FUNDACION FATORNIK
    Inventors: Inigo Martinez De Maranon Ibabe, Raquel Rodriguez Fernandez, Aitor Lasa Moran
  • Publication number: 20100294143
    Abstract: Objects impinging on an impingement body may be classified, with regard to their properties, in an efficient and highly reliable manner when the chronological acceleration profile caused by the object impinging on the impingement body is evaluated so as to classify the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Schmitt, Oliver Scholz, Guenther Kostka
  • Patent number: 7730608
    Abstract: A hinge feeder for feeding open hinges at a predetermined orientation to a receiver ready for use by an automatic door hinger. A dispenser is provided to hold a stack of closed hinges. The orientation of the top end and hinge joint of each hinge is sensed and the hinges sequentially dispensed at a uniform orientation, except for the pinhead location, to a rotator that rotates those hinges to bring their top ends to a desired side. The hinges are then opened by a leaf turner, fed to a stacker and the opened and oriented hinges then deposited in a stack by a stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Kval, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew M. Kvalheim
  • Patent number: 7654380
    Abstract: A handling system able to efficiently process information relating to a plurality of conveyed articles, the handling system provided with a conveyer for conveying workpieces, a visual sensor for detecting positions of workpieces by acquiring images of a plurality of tracking ranges obtained by dividing a belt into sections, an encoder for detecting an amount of movement of the belt, a tracking manager for monitoring amounts of movement of the plurality of tracking ranges based on the amount of movement detected by the encoder and specifying the tracking range passing through a workpiece detection area, a workpiece manager for selecting the article in the tracking range specified by the tracking manager, and a controller for controlling operations of robots so as to hold the workpiece selected by the workpiece manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunori Nishihara, Toshihiko Nakane
  • Publication number: 20090173138
    Abstract: A system and method for checking electrical contact points of semiconductor devices. One embodiment includes a check system and a method in which, for the checking of electrical contact points of semiconductor devices, a system is provided by which a number of contact points are impacted with a mechanical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: QIMONDA AG
    Inventors: Holger Hoppe, Erich Mueller, Frank Weber
  • Patent number: 7354401
    Abstract: A method for making a sex determination in avian hatchlings involves the following activities. A process line is equipped to process an endless plurality of hatchlings. The process line has an ultrasound inspection station for the hatchlings. The ultrasound inspection results are analyzed to find the presence of given sex-determinative structure for each hatchling. If the given sex-determinative structure is found then a first category assignment is made. The hatchling is sorted according to its category assignment. The category assignments might number two or three or so including positively-identified one sex, positively-identified other sex, and default to waste for any of various reasons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: L. Taizo Toelken
  • Patent number: 6655680
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the entrance of a document into a sheet feeder. The document sensor is attached to the sheet feeder. The document sensor comprises a printed circuit board, a key peg and a rocking lever. The printed circuit board is attached to the sheet feeder. The printed circuit board has a first lead wire and a second lead wire detached form each other. The key peg is also attached to the sheet feeder pinning the rocking lever so that the rocking lever is free to rotate relative to the key peg. A conductive member is attached to the rocking lever so that rotating the rocking lever is able to establish an electrical connection between the first lead wire and the second lead wire through the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Umax Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yin-Chun Huang, Pi-Chun Chen, Ji-Mei Tsuei
  • Publication number: 20020139729
    Abstract: An object, such as a pistachio nut, is sorted based on a given trait. The sorting process commences by bouncing the object off a body so that the object emits a sound. The sound emitted by the object is converted to an electrical signal which is analyzed to determine electrical characteristics that indicate the trait of the object. For example, the electrical signal can be integrated and a signal gradient produced to discriminate among signals from different classes of objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas C. Pearson
  • Patent number: 6300584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a loading/unloading control apparatus of a semiconductor device and a control method thereof in which a time for loading/unloading a semiconductor device can be saved when a produced semiconductor device is loaded and unloaded to be tested. The present invention provides a loading/unloading control method of a semiconductor device including the steps of: determining whether a semiconductor device for being sorted to an unloading buffer exists by a microprocessor; determining whether a sorting tray has been prepared when the semiconductor device exists to be sorted to the unloading buffer; requiring the sorting tray to be replaced by the microprocessor when the sorting tray has not been prepared; and feeding the semiconductor device served at the unloading buffer to the sorting buffer by a X-Y axis picker during the replacing of sorting tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Myung Song
  • Patent number: 6194679
    Abstract: In a machine for testing and sorting miniature electrical inductors of the type having spaced-apart, opposed first and second metal-terminated ends, wherein the machine includes a feed station having an inlet, an outlet and adapted to receive bulk quantities of inductors, a rotatably mounted transport wheel the wheel having an outer rim portion that includes a plurality of separate, spaced-apart compartments adapted to receive inductors from the feed station whereby each of the compartments has a central axis that is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, a test station including testing apparatus, and a sorting station operatively connected to the testing apparatus whereby an electrical inductor that is within the sorting station can be directed by a transfer means into one of at least two receiving means based on the testing performed at the test station, wherein when an electrical inductor is located in one of the compartments of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventors: Douglas J. Garcia, Jakob Herrmann
  • Patent number: 5251765
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for segregating elongate cylindrical rods of undesirable alloy composition from rods having a desired alloy composition is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rod segregation table having an upper rod transport side for individually moving rods transversely in substantially parallel spaced relation across the table. A thermoelectric tester is positioned at an intermediate rod test position under the upper rod transport side of the table and includes two spaced electrodes maintained at different temperatures and being adapted and arranged to engage a rod as it is moved into the rod test position. A signal representative of the thermoelectrically induced voltage in the rod between the electrodes is generated and compared to a predetermined value. An offset drive signal is generated when the signal representative of the induced thermoelectric voltage is different from the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Stanley S. Patrick, Robert E. Shannon
  • Patent number: 5207331
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically processing a supply of cartons, in flattened form and of different types, in accordance with a selectable number of plural, different and separately identifiable carton types. Unsorted cartons are removed in successive layers from stacks thereof and transported in serial succession along a transport path. Sorting modules are disposed along the transport path, each including respectively associated routing and stacking devices individually predesignated to receive and stack a given, identifiable carton type. A system controller tracks the progress of each carton, simultaneously for plural cartons, along the transport path and when a match of the carton type with a predesignated stacking device is determined, actuates the associated routing device to route a carton of a matching type from the transport path and to the associated stacking device for stacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Teegarden, Andrew J. Gorman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5193691
    Abstract: A can seam inspection apparatus. The apparatus has a pathway for a can and the pathway having an inlet and a pair of outlets. There is one outlet for can with a defective seam and another outlet for acceptable cans. A releasable holding device holds the cans as the cans move along the pathway. This holding device is rotated as they move along the pathway. The cans rotate with the holding device. The holding device can be released adjacent the inlet and the outlet. The can is inspected, preferably by a roller moving around the seam, as the can rotates. If the can is found defective then the inspection apparatus includes mechanisms to open the first outlet to allow rejection of the can. If the can is acceptable the can rolls over the first outlet to the second outlet. The equipment operates at high speed and with excellent accuracy. It can operate effectively in hostile environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Wun C. Chong
  • Patent number: 4927029
    Abstract: A device for checking cylindrical bodies, especially the tubes of open-end spinning machines transported along a feed path from a tube container to the distribution mechanism of the tubes on the machine, for example, by means of a chain conveyor with feed blades and with a cyclical intermittent motion. The above includes an auxiliary container for discarded tubes situated over the tube container near the feed path of the feed blades and oriented with its inlet aperture towards the feed path. The arrangement includes a centering device mounted transversely with respect to the feed path of the tubes at the location where the blades of the chain conveyor are cyclically stopped. The centering device is disposed along the axis of the tube which is transported to it. The centering device is provided with a drive for imparting rotary motion to the centered tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Elitex koncern textilniho strojirenstvi
    Inventor: Jiri Thrlik
  • Patent number: 4727989
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical orientation system for conveyed articles having a distinguishable top and bottom such as a rail tie plate or the like is disclosed comprising a sensor frame having a transverse pivot axis, a plurality of elongate sensor fingers pivotable about that axis and subject to a biasing force, a plurality of notched beam interceptors, one mounted to each sensor finger, a corresponding plurality of opto switches and a logic circuit, whereby the frame is oriented in relation to a conveyor surface so that the sensor fingers intercept and are triggered by the conveyed article. The pattern of triggered sensor fingers is transmitted through the beam interceptors and opto switches to the logic means, from where it may be used to trigger a conveyed article reorientation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Rexnord Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Cotic, Andrew M. Dieringer
  • Patent number: 4676379
    Abstract: An apparatus for discriminating and sorting out defective plastic bottle crates from sound bottle crates comprising driving means for urging an indenter or contact tip provided at the tip of a vibrating rod of an ultrasonic hardness tester into steady contact in indented state with a bottle crate, detecting means for detecting resonant frequency of said vibrating rod which is varied by the urging of said indenter or contact tip into steady contact with said bottle crate, and means for distinguishing and sorting out defective bottle crates from sound bottle crates in response to the resonant frequency detected by the detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Shirakura, Ichiro Yonezawa, Shuichi Yokokura
  • Patent number: 4674636
    Abstract: A bobbin removing apparatus for an automatic winding system comprising a running belt and a bobbin guide member confronting with the belt, the apparatus being so constructed that a bobbin is tightly caught between the belt and the guide member and removed from a bobbin conveying medium by utilization of the motion of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Sekitani, Hiroo Otoshima
  • Patent number: 4509646
    Abstract: A machine adapted to receive in a continuous order the finished manufactured parts for inspection as to completeness and operativeness, for rejection of part failures, and sorting by proper orientation the accepted, tested, finished work pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Mid-West Automation Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Eitzinger
  • Patent number: 4475368
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for restraightening depending bent metal end skirts of cylindrical containers, such as beer kegs, wherein the containers moving in a path of travel for processing are automatically interrogated by sensing heads which engage the rims of the normally circular end skirts of the containers to detect the presence or absence of a bent portion thereof. Containers having detected bent skirt portions are directed from the main processing path to a skirt straightening station where the ends of the container are supported in retaining rings of upper and lower straightening heads while arcuately spaced pry levers, or paws, located centrally in each retaining ring move radially outward from a central nested position to engage inwardly bent skirt portions of the container to lift and push the same outwardly into a circular configuration. The container is rotated in the rings between engagements by the paws to bring all portions of the skirts into position for straightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Draft Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter K. Tanner, Jr., Frank A. Brinkmann, Terry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 4352431
    Abstract: A contaminant sorting device for sorting contaminant material, such as metal and rocks, from processing materials, such as wood chips, comprising a housing having internal walls formed of a surface of revolution into which housing is fed processing material at the upper portion thereof, an impeller disposed in the housing for receiving processing material and propelling it radially outwardly against the inner surfaces of the housing walls, a plurality of vibration sensing devices disposed around the walls of the housing for sensing vibrations due to impingement of the processing material on the walls, an electrical circuit for distinguishing between signals generated in response to impact of the processing material from response to impact of contaminant material, a series of trap doors each associated with a corresponding vibration sensing device and disposed downstream in the material flow path for diverting from the normal flow path a portion of processing material containing contaminant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Black Clawson Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Artiano
  • Patent number: 4260483
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods and machinery are provided for automatically inspecting shaped, lined closures and rejecting those which fail to meet pre-established criteria for shape and seal. Specifically, shaped closures having concave interior portions and resilient sealing liners are supplied to an inspection station comprising one or more female inspection nests for receiving individual closures and one or more respective male inspection heads for insertion into the concave portions of respective closures. The inspection heads are provided with exterior shapes approximating the interiors of ideal closures so that penetration into the closure indicates the conformity of the closure to the ideal. Preferably, the inspection head is connected to a source of pressurized fluid for testing both the depth of penetration and the adequacy of the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Zapata Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Nicholson, Ian P. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4256228
    Abstract: The apparatus has two pairs of long driven nip rolls on which bobbins with residual roving are advanced axially in a row with the nip rolls engaging the ends of residual roving and unwinding the roving into a delivery plenum therebelow through which the roving is drawn by suction to the surface of a rotating perforated delivery drum through which the suction is drawn to retain the roving thereon as the drum rotates the roving to a discharge plenum in which a shredding drum shreds the roving for discharge in pieces through a discharge plenum. A perforated baffle plate is mounted closely adjacent the delivery drum to confine suction through the drum and to allow suction to be drawn through the plate into the drum. The perforated baffle plate extends adjacent the shredding drum to confine the roving thereto and for suction to be drawn therethrough to direct the roving to the shredding drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: The Terrell Machine Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Terrell
  • Patent number: 4186837
    Abstract: A conveyor moves a series of cartridges containing undeveloped film and sender-identified mailers in correlated side-by-side relation from a loading station past a cartridge sensing station, a dual labeling station, and a plurality of discharge stations. Information sensed from each cartridge is stored in a memory and later controls the off-loading of the correlated cartridges and mailers at an appropriate one of the discharge stations from which the cartridges go their separate ways for film processing. Prior to off-loading, the side-by-side cartridge and mailer receive separate labels preprinted with correlating indicia enabling the developed film and the mailer to be correctly reunited for return to the sender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Assignee: Mystic Color Lab, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Popiel, R. Clark DuBois, Jay L. Carley, John C. Hamma