Grab Is A Suction Or Magnetic Article Engaging Means Patents (Class 414/737)
  • Patent number: 12232271
    Abstract: A component placement system is provided. The component placement system includes: a first bond head array configured for simultaneously carrying a first plurality of electronic components; a second bond head array configured for simultaneously carrying a second plurality of electronic components; a first motion system for simultaneously carrying the first bond head array and the second bond head array along a first motion axis; and a second motion system for carrying the first bond head array independent of the second bond head array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Brewel, Rudolphus Hendrikus Hoefs, Wilhelmus Gijsbertus Leonardus Van Sprang
  • Patent number: 12226895
    Abstract: Robotic end effectors may include a suction cup, one or more grasping fingers, and one or more flexible nails to securely and reliably engage, grasp, and cage items. The grasping fingers may move between open and closed positions to grasp items. In addition, the flexible nails may be coupled to ends of the grasping fingers to facilitate caging of items by the fingers and nails. For example, the flexible nails may bend, flex, or slide under, around, or relative to items and thereby enable grasping and caging of portions of items by the fingers and nails. The nails may be formed of various materials, with various layers or thicknesses of materials, and/or with variable flexibility or friction properties. Further, the nails may be transitioned or actuated between multiple configurations, including a sliding configuration and a grasping configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Manikantan Nambi, Chaitanya Mitash, Gregory Coleman, Timothy G. Dietz
  • Patent number: 12168815
    Abstract: A system and method for handling slag in a slag pit includes an equilibrium or balance crane equipped with a quick connect coupling. A drop-ball fixture and drop-ball reduces the size of the slag, as needed, then the boom assembly of the crane releases the drop-ball fixture and engages an excavating tool, such as a clamshell bucket, a bucket, or a grapple. An elevated control station provides an operator with improved line-of-sight visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Phoenix Services LLC
    Inventor: Bryan Osborne
  • Patent number: 12116207
    Abstract: A system and method for handling includes a tote handler. The tote handler includes an adjustable grip hand or a merger hand. The adjustable grip hand includes finger assemblies movable by actuators between a closed with the fingers urged together and an open position with the fingers urged apart. The fingers are selectively movable by the actuators between a retracted and an extended position. The merger grip hand includes insert fingers and suction fingers. Each of the insert fingers include a polygonal body having a peripheral surface shaped for engaging receipt within an inner surface of a tote. The suction fingers include elongate members with suction cups thereon. The suction fingers are movable between a closed position with the suction fingers urged towards the insert fingers and an open position with the suction fingers urged away from the insert fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Robotica, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Mark Dugat
  • Patent number: 12103261
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in the packaging industry comprises a first member for collecting a tubular box in a flattened configuration from a store positions the tubular box in a lowered position, retaining the box with first suction means at a first wall of the box. A second member, a third member and a fourth member are provided for movement of a fifth member which, when activated in rotation, abuts and retains, via second suction means a second wall of the tubular box, causing it to rotate with respect to the first wall, to open out the tubular box. A sixth member is included, with third suction means which is moved by a system to abut and retain the box in the opened-out configuration and transfer it, following the disengagement of the first member and of the fifth member, at a receiving station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Marchesini Group S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 12091268
    Abstract: A robotic system configured for performing a task of loading and unloading goods. The robotic system comprises a mobile base assembly, an actuation assembly coupled to the mobile base assembly and configured to move with respect to the base assembly, and a head assembly mounted atop the actuation assembly or the mobile base assembly. The head assembly comprises one or more sensors configured to collect data related to an operation environment and the task to be performed. The robotic system further comprises a dynamic conveyor coupled to the mobile base assembly. The dynamic conveyor comprises a platform. The robotic system furthermore comprises a control unit configured to move the platform to align the platform with respect to the goods to be loaded or unloaded. Further, the robotic system comprises a manipulation arm coupled to the actuation assembly or the dynamic conveyor and configured to move to perform the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Rightbot Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav Warrier, Anurag Dutta, Akash Singh
  • Patent number: 12084296
    Abstract: A movable harvesting apparatus includes an end effector including a suction port to suction a harvest object, a vacuum generator, vacuum spaces in which a vacuum is generated by the vacuum generator, a switching valve disposed in a path from the vacuum spaces to the suction port, and a controller to control opening and closing of the switching valve. The harvesting apparatus reduces wasteful energy consumption required for harvesting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masamitsu Shinomiya, Tomoyoshi Utsumi, Shuhei Matsushima
  • Patent number: 12064867
    Abstract: A method for unloading a container having packages with a rail device comprising a rail having a hand element displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The hand element has a plurality of finger elements having two flexible flank elements extending jointly from one end to the opposite end of the finger element. Each are connected flexibly to each other via a plurality of webs. The finger elements adjustable from a curved position into an extended position and back. The packages are stacked in the container forming a front face in which the rail device is brought close to the front face of the stacked packages. One hand element grips one package from the stack of packages and removes it from the stack. Following the removal, it is displaced along the rail and following the displacement grips one further package and removes it from the stack of packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Wolfram Grafe
  • Patent number: 12065315
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for locating, engaging, and shifting objects. The systems may be used to unload objects from a storage space, e.g., inside a vehicle or facility, including one associated with a logistics network operation. The systems disclosed herein may operate in automated or semi-automated fashion, e.g., at the direction of a control system associated with a computing device. The systems may further utilize shifter mechanisms that each include one or more belt-driven mechanisms and position-changing mechanisms that facilitate the locating, engaging, and shifting of objects in a storage space. The components of these systems may operate independently, or in coordination, thereby increasing the efficiency of an object-handling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio Gil, Julian Leland Bell, Youngjun Choi
  • Patent number: 12036665
    Abstract: A robotically-operated gripping device is provided and includes a frame assembly, a vacuum device, a clamping device, and a robotic arm. The vacuum device is connected to the frame assembly and configured to selectively attach to and position at least a portion of an object. The clamping device is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively clamping the object attached to the vacuum device. The robotic arm is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively positioning the vacuum device and the gripping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: JLS Automation
    Inventor: Corey Wagner
  • Patent number: 12037208
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an unloading apparatus includes a first sucking portion sucking an upper surface of a package, a second sucking portion sucking a side surface of the package, a first moving device moving the first sucking portion and the second sucking portion, a rotation portion rotatably connecting the first and second sucking portions to the first moving device, and a processor configured to control the first moving device. In a state in which the upper and side surfaces of the package are sucked, the processor is configured to control the first moving device to move the first moving device upward along a direction intersecting the side surface of the package sucked by the second sucking portion or a surface obtained by virtually extending the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Aoyagi, Masakazu Itoya, Akihiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11951558
    Abstract: A component supply device is configured to feed a component having a through hole to a target position. The component supply includes: a rod including at its distal end a holding portion to be inserted into the through hole; an actuator; a valve mounted on the rod; and a fixing portion by which the valve that advances with the rod passes. The rod includes a gas outlet located in an outer periphery of the holding portion and configured to blow gas rearward, and a gas passage extending inside the rod and configured to send gas supplied from a gas source to the gas outlet. The valve includes a push switch configured to be switched between an advanced attitude and a withdrawn attitude, and a biasing unit configured to bias the push switch to the withdrawn attitude. The fixing portion includes a pressing wall portion facing the push switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Seki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Oda, Seiji Miura, Kouji Sakota
  • Patent number: 11872692
    Abstract: A case opening apparatus is disclosed. In some implementations, the case opening apparatus may include a suction portion including a first suction portion configured to suction an upper portion of a case of a battery cell being in a folded state and a second suction portion configured to suction a lower portion of the case, and a rotation driving portion configured to open the inside of the case by rotating the first suction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: SK ON CO., LTD., HANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Eun Ahn, Sang Jun Park, Young Rae Oh, Kang San Kim, Jae Min Ryu, Ho Jeong Lee, Jeong Seok Jeong
  • Patent number: 11772279
    Abstract: Systems and methods used to pick and stack product for transport are disclosed. The systems and methods include a robotic end of arm stacking tool coupled to a robotic arm and including a product support. The product support includes fingers that pivot about an axis to allow spatulas coupled to the fingers to slide under and support the product when the product is picked from a product orienting member and stacked in a product transport member. An actuator can be activated to maintain the product support in a product support state and deactivated to release the product into the product transport member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: House of Design LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Wiley, Chris Scot Annin
  • Patent number: 11685055
    Abstract: A robot gripper for moving wafer carriers and packing materials and a method of operating the same are provided. The robot gripper includes two opposing clamp assemblies. The two clamp assemblies are configured to move close to or away from each other. Each of the clamp assemblies includes a movable support pin at a bottom of the clamp assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Fa Lee, Feng-Kuang Wu, Fu-Cheng Hung, Chi-Wei Chen, Chih-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 11667140
    Abstract: A technique advantageous to stably holding a reading apparatus relative to a printing apparatus is provided. A printing system includes a recording apparatus and a reading apparatus. The recording apparatus includes a housing that incorporates a printing unit that performs printing on a recording medium. The housing includes a front surface portion having a discharge port for discharging the recording medium on which printing is performed, a back surface portion facing the front surface portion, and a side surface portion connecting the front surface portion with the back surface portion. The printing system includes a holding unit connected to the housing at least at one end, and holding the reading apparatus above the housing. The holding unit includes a first fixing member for fixing to the back surface portion, and a second fixing member for fixing to the side surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouhei Tokuda, Hideyuki Nozawa
  • Patent number: 11642792
    Abstract: In embodiments, a holding device includes a suction pad, a first link, a second link, a base, and a tube member. The first link supports the suction pad so that the suction pad can rotate around a first rotation axis. The second link supports the first link so that the first link can rotate around a second rotation axis. The base supports the second link so that the second link can rotate around a third rotation axis. The tube member communicates the suction pad with the base and can be bent. The second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are not parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junya Tanaka, Kohei Nara
  • Patent number: 11504747
    Abstract: A medicine sorting device includes: a discrimination part for discriminating a type of a medicine based on an image captured by a first camera; and a conveyance/sorting unit for sorting, by each type, a plurality of types of medicines accommodated in a mixed state in a first accommodating part based on a discrimination result of the discrimination part, and storing the medicines in a second accommodating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Amano, Tomohiro Sugimoto, Yasuyuki Yoshikawa, Maki Matsunaga, Koji Ito, Yuta Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11458635
    Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein relate to an item manipulation system including a control system and a robotic arm coupled to the control system. The item manipulation system includes an end effector communicatively coupled to the control system and defines a first end and a second end. The first end of the end effector is rotatably engaged to the robotic arm. The item manipulation system also includes a gripper unit attached to the second end of the end effector. The gripper unit is configured to grip the item. The gripper unit includes at least one flexible suction cup and at least one rigid gripper. Each of the flexible suction cup and the at least one rigid gripper engage a surface of the item based on vacuum suction force generated through the at least one flexible suction cup or the at least one rigid gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew R. Wicks, Gabriel Goldman, D. W. Wilson Hamilton, Katharina Muelling
  • Patent number: 11458598
    Abstract: A holding head is provided for a vacuum holding device for handling a plate-shaped workpiece about an axis. An arrangement of operating elements on a base body of the holding head includes at least three operating elements connected as actuating elements in a double actuation circuit for releasing the plate-shaped workpiece. Two of the actuating elements are arranged on sides of the arrangement opposite to one another with respect to the position of the axis and the third actuating element is designed ring-shaped and surrounds the axis circumferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BOHLE AG
    Inventors: Marco Theissen, Edgar Hoehn
  • Patent number: 11447280
    Abstract: A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: F.R. Drake Company
    Inventors: André G. Richards, Thomas Ivy, Keith W. Hopkins, George E. Reed
  • Patent number: 11230439
    Abstract: A feeding rod is configured to insert a shaft-shaped component having a circular flange and a shaft portion into a receiving hole. A central axis of the shaft portion is disposed in an inclined state with respect to a central axis of the receiving hole due to the inclined disposition of the feeding rod. A surface of the flange is in close contact with a tip surface of the feeding rod due to an attraction force of a magnet of the feeding rod. A positioning protrusion receives an outer peripheral portion of the flange and sets a relative position between the feeding rod and the shaft-shaped component. A most advanced stop position of the feeding rod is a position where a tip portion of the shaft portion has entered the receiving hole, and the attraction force of the magnet is configured to be eliminated at the stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11124322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gripping head (15) for insert sheets (11) for inserting between rows of folding boxes (3) in a receptacle (2), characterized in that it comprises: at least one first aspiration element (17a, 17b) designed to grasp an insert sheet (11), at least one second aspiration element (18a, 18b) designed to grasp an insert sheet (11), at least one linear element (19a, 19b) on which at least the first aspiration element (17a, 17b) is mounted and able to slide, a controllable actuating mechanism (20), designed to displace at least the first aspiration element (17a, 17b) by sliding on the at least one linear element (19a, 19b) into a position of grasping in which the at least one first aspiration element (17a, 17b) and the at least one second aspiration element (18a, 18b) are positioned at a spacing from each other in order to grasp an insert sheet (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Bobst Mex SA
    Inventor: Nicolas Brizzi
  • Patent number: 11078033
    Abstract: A vacuum powered pickup tool with mechanically moveable discrete nozzles allows for selective activation of the nozzles through the mechanical movement of the nozzles relative to a vacuum manifold. The movement of a nozzle from an inactive position where an inlet port of the nozzle is fluidly decoupled with the vacuum manifold to an active position where the inlet port is fluidly coupled with the vacuum manifold allows for independent activation of discrete nozzles of the pickup tool. Aspects also contemplate varying an associate manifold through movement of the manifolds accessible to the inlet port of the nozzle when in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Montoya, Raymundo Alatorre Mercado
  • Patent number: 11027376
    Abstract: An automatic plug mounting system for a vehicle body is disclosed to automatically mount plugs into exhaust holes in the vehicle body being transferred along a transfer line. The automatic plug mounting system includes: a handling robot which operates along a teaching path set to correspond to the exhaust holes; and a plug mounting tool which is installed at an arm of the handling robot and, when a cylinder is actuated, places the plugs into the correct positions at the exhaust holes while at least one of the plugs is restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sangkyu Park
  • Patent number: 10892155
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a EUV cleaner system and process for cleaning a EUV carrier. The euv cleaner system comprises separate dirty and cleaned environments, separate cleaning chambers for different components of the double container carrier, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for holding different components at different locations, horizontal spin cleaning and drying for outer container, hot water and hot air (70 C) cleaning process, vertical nozzles and rasterizing megasonic nozzles for cleaning inner container with hot air nozzles for drying, separate vacuum decontamination chambers for outgassing different components, for example, one for inner and one for outer container with high vacuum (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
  • Patent number: 10780588
    Abstract: An end effector for a robotic arm is disclosed. The end effector includes a grasping apparatus having a gripping member and an appendage extending from the gripping member forming a channel between the griping member and the appendage. The channel is configured to receive at least a portion of an article, such as a latch for a container, to be manipulated by the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Sarcos LC
    Inventors: Fraser M. Smith, Michael Morrison, Glenn Colvin, Jr., Wayco Scroggin
  • Patent number: 10766652
    Abstract: A carrier element for use in a packaging device is provided wherein the carrier element is connectable with at least one transport device of the packaging device. The carrier element comprises at least one receiving surface for receiving at least one package. The receiving surface comprises at least one suction opening for fixing the package by suction. The carrier element further comprises at least one pressure reservoir connected to the suction opening. The carrier element further comprises at least one pressure sensor for measuring a pressure inside the pressure reservoir. A packaging device for packaging at least one product into at least one package is also disclosed. The packaging device comprises at least one carrier element and at least one transport device, wherein the carrier element is connected to the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Roche Diagnostics GMBH, Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jasiulek, Andreas Trapp
  • Patent number: 10632621
    Abstract: A robotic grommet installer includes a robotic arm and an installation unit. The installation unit includes a rotary grommet holder rotatively coupled to the robotic arm and an installer coupled to the robotic arm. The rotary grommet holder includes a plurality of grommet chambers spaced circumferentially about a rotational axis of the rotary grommet holder. Each grommet chamber of the plurality of grommet chambers is configured to hold a plurality of grommets. The installer is configured to retrieve a grommet from the rotary grommet holder, wherein the rotary grommet holder is configured to rotate to align the installer with an available grommet positioned within one of the plurality of grommet chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Erik C. Sobel, Calder Phillips-Grafflin, Aimee Goncalves, Guy Danner, Ira Spool, Jonathan Kalow, Nicholas Brennan, Seth Newburg, Joseph Fenton
  • Patent number: 10611580
    Abstract: An end-of-arm tool includes concentric rings of suction cups. The pneumatic actuators control the extension of suction cups, and are actuated in rings. Each suction cup is longitudinally retractable in response to a force applied to an item and has a compliant suction cup. Each ring has a vacuum control. Each ring can have its own compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Felipe De Arruda Camargo Polido, Scott Hopkinson, Leonard Thomas Lilliston, III, Michael James O'Connor
  • Patent number: 10427253
    Abstract: A method and a machine tool for processing workpieces is described, comprising a workpiece movement device and a workpiece support that supports both a workpiece during a processing operation and a workpiece remainder produced from the workpiece during the processing operation, wherein the workpiece support comprises a first support portion and an additional support portion, wherein the first support portion comprises a loading-side support portion arranged in a loading region of the machine tool, wherein the additional support portion is arranged to move relative to the loading-side support portion between the loading region and an unloading region of the machine tool, wherein the unloading region is offset in a horizontal direction from the loading region, wherein the loading-side support portion is arranged to move in a vertical direction between a loading level and a bypass level located above or below the loading level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Magnus Deiss, Peter Epperlein, Heinz-Juergen Prokop, Frank Schmauder
  • Patent number: 10392201
    Abstract: A vacuum powered pickup tool with mechanically moveable discrete nozzles allows for selective activation of the nozzles through the mechanical movement of the nozzles relative to a vacuum manifold. The movement of a nozzle from an inactive position where an inlet port of the nozzle is fluidly decoupled with the vacuum manifold to an active position where the inlet port is fluidly coupled with the vacuum manifold allows for independent activation of discrete nozzles of the pickup tool. Aspects also contemplate varying an associate manifold through movement of the manifolds accessible to the inlet port of the nozzle when in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Montoya, Raymundo Alatorre Mercado
  • Patent number: 10279575
    Abstract: A method for bonding a contact surface of a first substrate to a contact surface of a second substrate comprising of the steps of: positioning the first substrate on a first receiving surface of a first receiving apparatus and positioning the second substrate on a second receiving surface of a second receiving apparatus; establishing contact of the contact surfaces at a bond initiation site; and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate along a bonding wave which is travelling from the bond initiation site to the side edges of the substrates, wherein the first substrate and/or the second substrate is/are deformed for alignment of the contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: EV GROUP E. THALLNER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Wagenleitner, Markus Wimplinger, Friedrich Paul Lindner, Thomas Plach, Florian Kurz
  • Patent number: 10195749
    Abstract: A tension stiffened and tendon actuated manipulator is provided performing robotic-like movements when acquiring a payload. The manipulator design can be adapted for use in-space, lunar or other planetary installations as it is readily configurable for acquiring and precisely manipulating a payload in both a zero-g environment and in an environment with a gravity field. The manipulator includes a plurality of link arms, a hinge connecting adjacent link arms together to allow the adjacent link arms to rotate relative to each other and a cable actuation and tensioning system provided between adjacent link arms. The cable actuation and tensioning system includes a spreader arm and a plurality of driven and non-driven elements attached to the link arms and the spreader arm. At least one cable is routed around the driven and non-driven elements for actuating the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: William R. Doggett, John T. Dorsey, George G. Ganoe, Bruce D. King, Thomas C. Jones, Charles D. Mercer, Cole K. Corbin
  • Patent number: 10137544
    Abstract: A method of assembling a detail to a flexible member includes positioning the detail against a plurality of reader pogos, and axially displacing the plurality of reader pogos to substantially conform to a detail contour. The method additionally includes recording reader pogo position data representing the detail contour, clamping a flexible member against a plurality of positioning pogos, and axially displacing the plurality of positioning pogos complementary to the reader pogo position data. In addition, the method includes deflecting, using the positioning pogos, the flexible member into a contour corresponding to the reader pogo position data, and assembling the detail to the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Edward John Batt
  • Patent number: 10026604
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a EUV cleaner system and process for cleaning a EUV carrier. The euv cleaner system comprises separate dirty and cleaned environments, separate cleaning chambers for different components of the double container carrier, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for holding different components at different locations, horizontal spin cleaning and drying for outer container, hot water and hot air (70 C) cleaning process, vertical nozzles and rasterizing megasonic nozzles for cleaning inner container with hot air nozzles for drying, separate vacuum decontamination chambers for outgassing different components, for example, one for inner and one for outer container with high vacuum (e.g., <10?6 Torr) with purge gas, heaters and RGA sensors inside the vacuum chamber, purge gas assembling station, and purge gas loading and unloading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Brooks Automation (Germany) GmbH
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
  • Patent number: 10016790
    Abstract: A dual robotic sorting apparatus for identifying and sorting a product with at least two different sorting mechanisms is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the dual robotic sorting apparatus illuminates and images the product using at least one light source and imaging device, analyzes the image, and activates a specific sorting mechanism of a robotic arm to sort the product; wherein the dual sorting mechanism is a vacuum pickup tool, that picks up and places products in another location, and vacuum transport tool, that utilizes a suction tube to transport products to another location. Additionally, a plurality of robotic sorting apparatuses may be utilized. In the preferred embodiment of the dual robotic sorter, the CPU is capable of determining the most efficient method and type of pickup for each product identified for sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: K.B.C. Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Travis, Thomas R. Johnston, Curt Matthew Davis, Eric Andrew Pflueger
  • Patent number: 9073222
    Abstract: An end effector for the packaging industry comprises has a frame, a bridge on top of the frame, a rack and pinion assembly, actuation rods, carrier assemblies, and vacuum ports. The rack and pinion assembly is configured to be operatively connected to a robot's rotatable shaft, and to the actuation rods. The actuation rods are fixedly connected to one or more of the carrier assemblies. As the robot's shaft rotates, the rack and pinion assembly is actuated, which actuates the actuation rods, which causes the carrier assemblies fixedly connected to the actuation rods to move longitudinally along the frame. Each carrier assembly includes a carrier block and at least one pick-up member. Each carrier block has at least one arm with a grabber to cooperate with an adjacent arm with grabbers of an adjacent carrier block(s) of the same subgroup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: PROPACK PROCESSING AND PACKAGING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin George Crosby
  • Patent number: 9004846
    Abstract: A gripper assembly for use with a moving device is disclosed. The moving device can be a mechanical device such as a robot. The gripper assembly includes a platform and an elongate arm extending from the platform. The elongate arm is in the form of least one elongate member. Each elongate member has a body which has a proximal end and an opposed distal end. A gripping mechanism is rotatably supported relative to the arm, and includes a holder having a pivoting arm pivotably joined to the body in the region of the distal end of the body. An actuator is in operable communication with the pivoting arm to impart pivotable movement to the pivoting arm and rotational movement to said gripping mechanism about a horizontal axis upon actuation of the actuator. The gripper assembly may have a center of mass substantially aligned with a vertical rotation axis of the gripper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stefano La Rovere, Jia-wei Chiu, Andreas Boettcher, Jeffrey Kyle Werner
  • Patent number: 8985936
    Abstract: A method of orienting a selected item from a stack of similar items, the method comprising the steps of separating, engaging and orienting. The separating step separates the selected item from the stack using a first attraction force of a transport apparatus. The engaging step engages the selected item with a second attraction force from the transport apparatus. The second attraction force being greater than the first attraction force. The orienting step orients the selected item relative to the transport apparatus as the transport apparatus is en route to a destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Minster Corporation
    Inventors: Johnathan A. Rankin, Rohan V. Patel, David A. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8960750
    Abstract: A device for vacuum-lifting workpieces includes a driving assembly, a rotating table, a plurality of suction assemblies mounted on the rotating table spaced from each other, and a vacuum pump. Each suction assembly includes a suction cup. An airflow guiding part is configured to align each suction cup with a vacuum when the suction cup is positioned above a picking station. The driving assembly makes the suction cups communicate with the airflow guiding part in succession. Each suction assembly is capable of picking a different type of workpiece, therefore the suction device can take the place of a plurality of individual manipulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Xu Gong, Bing Yu, Jian-Ping Jin
  • Patent number: 8950064
    Abstract: In a component mounting device (1) which has a first mounting lane (L1) and a second mounting lane (L2) and which is structured so as to be able to select either an independence mounting mode or an alternation mounting mode, when device type changing operation is performed with change of the type of boards which are the mounted objects, if a tape feeder float detecting sensor (17) that is provided in proximity of an opening (19) through which a part of the body or the foreign object enters in the component supplying part is, detects a part of the body such as a finger (26) of the operator or the foreign object, operation of the component mounting mechanism which belong to the mounting lane opposite to the mounting lane to which the component supplying part, in which the optical sensor is provided, belongs is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kitagawa, Shuzo Yagi, Takeyuki Kawase
  • Publication number: 20150016933
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a suction unit capable of sucking an object and a transfer unit moving the suction unit. The suction unit includes a base member; a plurality of nozzles provided for a plurality of types of objects; a housing room formation unit attached to the base member, forming a housing room for housing the other end portion side of the plurality of nozzles, and including a sealing unit facing air outlets; a negative pressure generation unit generating negative pressure inside the housing room; and a drive unit driving the plurality of nozzles such that the air outlet of a nozzle selected from the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a type of the object is separated from the sealing unit, and the air outlet of a non-selected nozzle is bumped against the sealing unit to be sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Ochiishi
  • Patent number: 8920103
    Abstract: A rotary end effector for use for the high speed handling of workpieces, such as solar cells, is disclosed. The rotary end effector is capable of infinite rotation. The rotary end effector has a gripper bracket, capable of supporting a plurality of grippers, arranged in any configuration, such as a 4×1 linear array. Each gripper is in communication with a suction system, wherein, in some embodiments, each gripper can be selectively enabled and disabled. Provisions are also made to allow electrical components, such as proximity sensors, to be mounted on the rotating gripper bracket. In another embodiment, an end effector with multiple surfaces, each with a plurality of grippers, is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Schaller, Robert Vopat
  • Publication number: 20140360137
    Abstract: A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Andre RICHARDS, Thomas IVY, Keith Wayne HOPKINS, George REED
  • Patent number: 8899650
    Abstract: An adsorbent in a board conveying hand includes: a pad for adsorbing a board in contact with the board; and an elastic member interposed between the fork and the pad and provided with an adsorption passage for allowing an adsorbing fluid to pass between the fork and the pad, wherein a part of the elastic member is deformed, thus arbitrarily varying a projection amount of the pad from the fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Makoto Furuta, Toru Nakako, Tetsuya Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20140334907
    Abstract: A system for remote object handling including a public safety vehicle having a front portion. An articulated arm has a first end and a second end distinct from the first end, the arm being coupled to the front portion at the first end, and has at least one pivot disposed between the first end and the second end. A gripping element is removably coupled to the second end, wherein the gripping element is one of a pincer device, a hand device having at least three fingers or a shovel. A video camera is also coupled to the second end. An arm control is disposed within the vehicle and is operable to control the operation of the arm, the manipulator and the video camera, and a video interface is coupled to the video camera which is operable to display output from the video camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Robert L. Piccioni
  • Patent number: 8881380
    Abstract: There is provided a component mounting apparatus, which includes: a nozzle which sucks a component; a nozzle supporting member, on which the nozzle is installed, which moves in a vertical direction with respect to an upper surface of a substrate on which the component sucked at the nozzle is mounted; an optical system which captures an image of a leading edge portion of the nozzle where the component is sucked in a component mounting operation, from a side direction, such that an optical axis of the optical system is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a sucking surface of the nozzle; and an analyzer which analyzes the image of the leading edge portion to determine whether a sucking state of the component sucked by the nozzle is normal or abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hatase Takayuki
  • Patent number: 8881384
    Abstract: When performing the device type changing operation with the change of the board type to undergo mounting, the component mounting device, which has a first mounting lane and a second mounting lane and which is structured so as to be able to select either an independent mounting mode or an alternate mounting mode, moves a mounting head of the mounting lane to and thereafter positions and fixes to a previously-set predetermined withdraw position [P] where entry of a portion of a body of an operator by way of an opening (19) formed in a protective cover (18a) can be prevented and where safety of the operator is not impaired even if a mounting head of a mounting lane on the other side has undergone collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kitagawa, Shuzo Yagi, Takeyuki Kawase
  • Patent number: 8881383
    Abstract: In a component mounting device (1) which includes a first mounting lane (L1) and a second mounting lane (L2) and for which an independence mounting mode and an alternation mounting mode are selectable, a first limited movable area (R1A) and a first limited movable area (R1B) in which the movements in the horizontal direction of a first mounting head (13A) and a second mounting head (13B) of the mounting lanes are permitted in the independence mounting mode, are set as areas different from second limited movable areas in the alternation mounting mode, to prevent the mounting head of the mounting lane which is continuously operating from entering into the area of the mounting lanes for which the device type changing operation is being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kitagawa, Shuzo Yagi, Takeyuki Kawase