Process Patents (Class 414/800)
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Patent number: 12145280Abstract: Systems and methods for automated wire pickup using image-based robot guidance. The machine vision-based system includes: a robot arm; a tool head coupled to the distal end of the robot arm and including a wire gripper motor; a wire gripper movably coupled to the tool head and operatively coupled to the wire gripper motor; a wire holder configured for clamping a wire; cameras mounted to the distal end of the robot arm and having first and second fields of view which intersect in a volume of space that includes the tip of the wire gripper and the wire holder; and a computer system configured to control operation of the robot arm motors and wire gripper motor. More specifically, the computer system is configured for visually estimating the position and orientation of a contact-equipped wire being held by the wire holder and then generating robot guidance to enable automated pickup of the end section of the wire by the wire gripper.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Heiko Hoffman, Jeffrey A. McCaskey, Lars E. Blacken, Bradley J. Mitchell, Damien O. Martin
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Patent number: 12139338Abstract: An article transportation system, including at least one access vehicle (1) and at least one transport vehicle (2), each access vehicle (1) is provided with a first drive assembly, and each transport vehicle (2) is provided with a second drive assembly; the first drive assembly is configured to drive the access vehicle (1) to travel on a preset plane and in a vertical direction, and the second drive assembly is configured to drive the transport vehicle (2) to travel on the preset plane; the access vehicle (1) or the transport vehicle (2) is provided with a transfer assembly (3); where the transfer assembly (3) is configured to transfer an article from one of the access vehicle (1) and the transport vehicle (2) to the other one when the access vehicle (1) and the transport vehicle (2) travel to a same position.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: BEIJING JINGDONG QIANSHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Mingfu Wu, Fengquan Huang, Guoku Song
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Patent number: 12109681Abstract: A substrate handling device includes a substrate reception area defined by an edge. The substrate reception area includes a planar surface, wherein the edge extends upward from the planar surface. The substrate reception area further includes a plurality of contact structures extending upwards from the planar surface, wherein a first contact structure of the plurality of contact structures directly contacts a side surface of the edge, and a second contact structure of the plurality of contact structures is separated from the edge. The substrate reception area and the planar surface include a first material. At least one contact structure of the plurality of contact structures includes a second material different from the first material, and the second material has a hardness aligned to a hardness of a substrate material.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2023Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: You-Hua Chou, Kuo-Sheng Chuang
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Patent number: 12102994Abstract: According to embodiments, an apparatus for distributing solid particles into a tube includes a center member and a plurality of damper members connected to the center member. Each damper member includes a loop extending away from the center member. Each loop is arranged on the center member extending from a first position on the center member to a second position on the center member different from the first position in a longitudinal direction of the center member.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: CAT TECH INTERNATIONAL, LTD.Inventor: Stephen Brennom
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Patent number: 12106993Abstract: A device and a method for aligning substrates. The method includes the steps of detecting alignment marks and aligning substrates with respect to one another in dependence on the detection of the alignment marks. At least two alignment marks are arranged parallel to a direction of a linear movement of the substrates, wherein the alignment of the substrates takes place along a single alignment axis, the alignment axis running parallel to the loading and unloading direction of the substrates.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: EV Group E. Thallner GmbHInventor: Jozsef Krol
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Patent number: 12070291Abstract: A hand grip apparatus for receiving operator input includes a body having a proximal end and a distal interface end for coupling to an input apparatus. A first control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end and terminates in a finger grip for receiving one of the operator's fingers. A second control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end terminating in a thumb grip for receiving the operator's thumb. Movement of at least one of the control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement. An input control is included on the body between the grip ends and has an actuator surface angled towards the finger grip end and configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation by one of the operator's fingers.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.Inventors: Thomas Andrew Lutzow, Daniel P. Smith, Peter John Kenneth Cameron
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Patent number: 12057337Abstract: A chip transferring method includes providing a plurality of chips on a first load-bearing structure; measuring photoelectric characteristic values of the plurality of chips; categorizing the plurality of chips into a first portion chips and a second portion chips according to the photoelectric characteristic values of the plurality of chips, wherein the second portion chips comprise parts of the plurality of chips which photoelectric characteristic value falls within an unqualified range; removing the second portion chips from the first load-bearing structure; dividing the first portion chips into a plurality of blocks according to the photoelectric characteristic values, and each of the plurality of blocks comprising multiple chips of the first portion chips; and transferring the multiple chips of one of the plurality of blocks to a second load-bearing structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: EPISTAR CORPORATIONInventors: Min-Hsun Hsieh, De-Shan Kuo, Chang-Lin Lee, Jhih-Yong Yang
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Patent number: 12004337Abstract: Disclosed in some embodiments is a chamber component (such as an end effector body) coated with an ultrathin electrically-dissipative material to provide a dissipative path from the coating to the ground. The coating may be deposited via a chemical precursor deposition to provide a uniform, conformal, and porosity free coating in a cost effective manner. In an embodiment wherein the chamber component comprises an end effector body, the end effector body may further comprise replaceable contact pads for supporting a substrate and the contact surface of the contact pads head may also be coated with an electrically-dissipative material.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Gayatri Natu, Geetika Bajaj, Prerna Goradia, Darshan Thakare, David Fenwick, XiaoMing He, Sanni Seppaelae, Jennifer Sun, Rajkumar Thanu, Jeff Hudgens, Karuppasamy Muthukamatchy, Arun Dhayalan
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Patent number: 11999052Abstract: A robot for detecting and saving a life, includes: a body part including a plurality of unit joints; a head part which is provided at the front of the body part in the direction in which the body part moves forward, and which has a gripper capable of picking up an object by a plurality of tongs parts that are folded and unfolded; and an extension part capable of extending forward from the head part so as to enter a small space that is difficult for the body part to enter.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignees: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ROBOT AND CONVERGENCE, KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATIONInventors: Jong Geol Kim, Mao Lin Jin, Dong Bin Shin, Dae Hie Hong, Seung Sub Oh, Kap Ho Seo
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Patent number: 11992913Abstract: A workpiece support device includes a shaft rotatable about a shaft rotation axis of the shaft, a first support, a first reciprocating mechanism, and a first connecting rod having one end and another end. The shaft extends along a longitudinal direction of a workpiece. The first support includes a first support roller that is rotatable about a first roller rotation axis orthogonal to the shaft rotation axis and that is configured to contact the workpiece to support the workpiece. The first reciprocating mechanism has one end connected to the first support and is configured to reciprocate in a first expansion-contraction axis direction. The one end of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the first support. The another end of the first connecting rod is connected to the shaft such that the another end of the first connecting rod is rotatable together with the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: YAMAZAKI MAZAK CORPORATIONInventors: Keisuke Kageyama, Kazuya Shimamoto, Keita Hachiya
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Patent number: 11939147Abstract: A method of transporting proppant to a wellsite can comprise transporting a plurality of trailers to a proppant-loading site, each of the trailers comprising one or more containers. At the proppant-loading site, proppant can be loaded into the container(s) of each of first and second ones of the trailers. A long combination vehicle comprising a truck and the first and second trailers can be formed at least by coupling the first trailer to the truck and the second trailer to the first trailer. The long combination vehicle can be driven from the proppant-loading site to the wellsite after proppant is loaded into the container(s) of each of the first and second trailers at the proppant-loading site. Less than 1% of a distance that the long combination vehicle drives from the proppant-loading site to the wellsite can be on a public road.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2023Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Atlas Sand Company, LLCInventors: Christopher R. Scholla, Alexandra Couture, Dacia Webb
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Patent number: 11911801Abstract: Apparatuses, method and computer program products for automatically performing sorting operations are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may comprise: an array of gripping elements, and at least one processing component configured to: obtain image data corresponding with the plurality of items; identify, from the image data, one or more characteristics of the plurality of items; determine, based at least in part on the one or more characteristics, an ordered sequence corresponding with the plurality of items; and generate a control indication to cause at least one of the gripping elements to perform the sorting operations based at least in part on the ordered sequence.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLCInventors: Matthew Wicks, David Pepley
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Patent number: 11891249Abstract: An order picking system includes a paternoster conveyor having a carrier configured to carry products. The paternoster conveyor is on one side associated with at least one transporter; and on an opposite side associated with at least a plurality of further transporters that comprise a plurality of transport boxes. The plurality of transport boxes are configured to receive one or more than one product carried by the carrier. The paternoster conveyor is configured to at least one of: selectively place one or more than one product in a pre-selected transport box of the plurality of transport boxes; and selectively pick up and carry a pre-selected transport box comprising one or more than one product previously received therein. A method of handling products in such an order picking system.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: QIMAROX PATENTEN B.V.Inventor: Pieter Gerrit Hannessen
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Patent number: 11872752Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 11864503Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a multi-functional automatic translational field service device, which includes a first driverless water wagon and a second driverless water wagon that are arranged on a flat road at two ends of a field respectively. The first driverless water wagon is connected with the second driverless water wagon through a first steel wire (1) and a second steel wire (2), and two sides of the first steel wire (1) are each provided with a synchronizer (3); the first steel wire (1) is connected with a first horizontal PVC pipe (5) through a plurality of third steel wires (4) that are evenly distributed and extended along a vertical direction; a plurality of first round holes are evenly distributed on the first PVC pipe (5).Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Inventor: Jinpo Li
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Patent number: 11870233Abstract: A mobile conductor lift comprised of multiple lightweight subassemblies that may be rapidly assembled manually or using handheld tools by a small crew of workers and that is capable of being quickly and easily placed into multiple potential configurations and in either horizontal or vertical orientations for lifting energized or deenergized conductors away from power poles in order to provide room for work to be performed by workers on such power poles or on other equipment connected to such power poles.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Inventors: John Gibel, Daniel Spaulding
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Patent number: 11828516Abstract: A cryogenic storage system includes a transfer module configured to service one or more cryogenic storage freezers. The transfer module includes a working chamber that maintains a cryogenic environment for the transfer of sample tubes between different sample boxes. One or more freezer ports enable the transfer module to receive a sample box extracted from a respective freezer. An input/output (I/O) port enables external access to samples. A box transport robot operates to transport sample boxes between the freezer ports, the working chamber, and the I/O port. A picker robot operates to transfer sample tubes between sample boxes within the working chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: AZENTA US, INC.Inventors: Lingchen Sun, Bruce Zandi, Frank Hunt, Jr., Aaron Plaisted, Tiffany Holmes, Matthew Albert, Fang Cui, Yuri Rubenchik, Daniel Lamothe
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Patent number: 11827449Abstract: A mover according to the present disclosure includes: a body to move; a second member; a suction unit; a location detection unit; a first moving part, and a second moving part. The second member moves in a state where the second member is combined with a first member provided for an object, as the body is displaced relative to the object. The suction unit is sucked to the object in the state where the second member is combined with the first member. The location detection unit detects a location of the body with respect to the object by detecting movement of the second member. The first moving part moves the body until the state where the second member is combined with the first member is established. The second moving part displaces the body relative to the object in the state where the second member is combined with the first member.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Shirouzu, Osamu Mizuno
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Patent number: 11823934Abstract: A wafer stocker capable of further improving an environment around wafers is provided. The wafer stocker includes a housing, a loading device provided on a front surface of the housing, a wafer cassette shelf arranged in the housing, a wafer transfer robot configured to move the wafers from a transfer container mounted on the loading device to a wafer cassette in the wafer cassette shelf, a wafer cassette delivery device configured to move the wafer cassette in the wafer cassette shelf to a stage having a different height, and a fan filter unit configured to generate a laminar flow in a wafer transfer space and in a wafer cassette transfer space.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2023Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Taniyama, Toshihiro Kawai
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Patent number: 11781310Abstract: A method of unloading a modular home from a trailer includes extending a plurality of linear actuators coupled to overhanging portions of a modular home positioned on a bed of a trailer until the linear actuators lift the modular home off of the trailer, sending instructions to one or more crawlers to move under the modular home, retracting the linear actuators to lower the modular home such that a lower surface of the modular home rests on a platform positioned on each of the crawlers, sending instructions to the crawlers to move the modular home to an installation location, extending the linear actuators until the linear actuators lift the modular home off of the crawlers, sending instructions to the crawlers to move out from under the modular home, and retracting the linear actuators to lower the modular home to an installed height.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Modology Design GroupInventor: Mark D. Hall
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Patent number: 11772912Abstract: A transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor and method for operating a transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor including a stator on which a plurality of magnetic-field-generating units is arranged and a plurality of transport units which are moved along the stator simultaneously. In an event of a system error in a part of the transport system, the method includes defining an error area on the stator that includes only a part of the stator with a defective part of the transport system, and transferring the magnetic-field-generating units within the defined error area to a specified error state.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBHInventors: Stefan Flixeder, Benjamin Reichenwallner, Michael Hauer, Birgit Zimmer
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Patent number: 11751520Abstract: A mobile drip irrigation system includes a plurality of drip tubes anchored at a first end to a water supply conduit. As the mobile irrigation system travels across a surface to be watered a second, free end of each drip tube is pulled along the surface to provide precise and uniform water distribution through the drip tubes. A cable extending across each section of the mobile irrigation system is attached to the plurality of drip tubes within that section, with the cable movable via a winch mechanism to shift the position of the drip tubes within that section to correspondingly shift the drag path of the tubes to a desired location. In exemplary embodiments, a lower manifold distributes water to the drip tubes, and in further embodiments a support restraint provides support to the lower manifold.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventor: Monty J. Teeter
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Patent number: 11753881Abstract: A system comprising a rig, a fingerboard, a first sensor, and a second sensor, with the first sensor positioned on an opposite side of the entrance from the second sensor, where the first sensor and the second sensor are used to detect when a tubular enters or exits the fingerboard and to detect a parameter of the tubular, such as diameter of the tubular, speed of the tubular, and an angle of entry of the tubular. A method comprising sensing, via first and second sensors, when a tubular is entering a fingerboard through an entrance of the fingerboard, restricting movement of a top drive at an elevated position until the first and second sensors sense the tubular entering the fingerboard, and enabling movement of the top drive when the first and second sensors sense the tubular entering the fingerboard.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.Inventors: John Patterson, Scott Boone
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Patent number: 11712314Abstract: Implementations relate to a master control device. In some implementations, a master control device includes a control body comprising a proximal end, a thumb grip portion, and a finger grip portion. The control body has a length configured to engage the proximal end of the control body in the palm of a hand of the user while the hand engages the thumb grip portion with a thumb of the hand and the finger grip portion with a finger of the hand. The control body is configured to allow the proximal end of the control body to be selectively engaged by the palm of the hand and selectively disengaged from the palm of the hand while the hand engages the thumb grip portion with the thumb of the hand and the finger grip portion with the finger of the hand.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2018Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Allen C. Thompson, Grant M. Kadokura, John Ryan Steger
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Patent number: 11694906Abstract: In one example, a semiconductor device can comprise a unit substrate comprising a unit conductive structure and a unit dielectric structure, and an electronic component coupled to the unit conductive structure. The unit substrate can comprise a portion of a singulated subpanel substrate of a panel substrate. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Amkor Technology Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jae Yoon Kim, Ji Hun Lee, Suresh Jayaraman, David Hiner, Won Chul Do, Jin Young Khim, Ju Hong Shin, Kye Ryung Kim
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Patent number: 11608812Abstract: Methods (200) for reducing vibrations in one or more rotor blades (120) of a wind turbine (160), when the wind turbine is in standstill conditions are provided. The method comprises measuring (201) one or more deformation parameters indicative of deformation of one or more blades (120), determining (202), at a dedicated controller (190) for an auxiliary drive system (20, 107), a vibration of one or more of the blades (120) based on the deformation parameters, wherein the dedicated controller (190) for the auxiliary drive system is separate from the wind turbine controller (180), and generating (203), at the dedicated controller (190), an output signal to operate the auxiliary drive system to reduce the vibration. Also disclosed are wind turbines (160) which comprise a dedicated controller (190) configured to determine a vibration and generating an output signal to reduce the vibration, when the wind turbine is in standstill conditions.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: General Electric Renovables España, S. L.Inventors: Pedro Arroyo Beltri, Thomas Picard, Marc Canal Vila, Ricardo Lázaro Bosch, Pedro Palomares Rentero
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Patent number: 11603301Abstract: The present invention discloses a lifting mechanism mounted on a lifting device, wherein the lifting device includes a carrying unit. The lifting mechanism is disposed under the carrying unit, and comprises a driving assembly and a lifting assembly. The driving assembly includes an axle fixing part, a drive wheel and a power source, and the lifting assembly includes a screw nut and a screw rod. An upper end of the screw rod is fixedly connected to the carrying unit. When the lifting mechanism is traveling, each drive wheel is in contact with a base surface and moves the lifting device on the base surface; and when lifting, each drive wheel rotates on the base surface to drive the screw nut to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the carrying unit, to drive the screw rod to lift the carrying unit along the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2018Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: SUZHOU XINYOUHUA INVESTMENT ADVISOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Tao Luo
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Patent number: 11566604Abstract: Described is a tool and apparatus for positioning a blade for a wind turbine the wind turbine including a tower and a rotatable hub on the tower. The tool is mounted on a side of the tower so that the blade is supported on the tower in an initial configuration. The tool includes a first part arranged to be angularly movable relative to a second part for tilting the blade with respect to the tower to position the blade in a position that can allow the blade to be connected to the hub.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Norway ASInventors: Anibal B. Teixeira, Ole Petter Torvik, Thor Strand
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Patent number: 11569118Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a thrust-up unit having a plurality of blocks in contact with a dicing tape, a head having a collet absorbing the die and capable of being moved up and down, and a control section controlling the operation of the thrust-up unit and the head. The thrust-up unit can operate each of the plurality of blocks independently. The control section configures the thrust-up sequences of the plurality of blocks in a plurality of steps, and controls the operation of the plurality of blocks on the basis of a time chart recipe capable of setting the height and the speed of the plurality of blocks for each block and in each step.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Fasford Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yokomori, Tatsuyuki Okubo, Yuki Nakui, Hiroshi Maki, Akira Saito, Naoki Okamoto
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Patent number: 11547066Abstract: A mobile drip irrigation system includes a plurality of drip tubes anchored at a first end to a water supply conduit. As the mobile irrigation system travels across a surface to be watered a second, free end of each drip tube is pulled along the surface to provide precise and uniform water distribution through the drip tubes. A cable extending across each section of the mobile irrigation system is attached to the plurality of drip tubes within that section, with the cable movable via a winch mechanism to shift the position of the drip tubes within that section to correspondingly shift the drag path of the tubes to a desired location. In exemplary embodiments, a lower manifold distributes water to the drip tubes, and in further embodiments a support restraint provides support to the lower manifold.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2018Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Inventor: Monty J. Teeter
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Patent number: 11544480Abstract: An operation of calibrating the object using a reference reader is performed, the calibration operation including an operation of placing the reference reader at various distances away from the object that correspond to various values of a parameter within the object that is representative of the intensity of the signal received by the object, and, for each distance, an operation of determining an internal phase-shift compensation in the object with respect to a nominal internal phase shift, making it possible to obtain a load modulation amplitude that is higher, in terms of absolute value, than a threshold, and an operation of storing a lookup table of the various values of the parameter and the corresponding internal phase-shift compensations.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SASInventors: Nicolas Cordier, Anthony Tornambe
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Patent number: 11531956Abstract: A system for parcel transport and tracking that operates responsive to data bearing records includes a plurality of geographically spaced repositories. The exemplary repositories include one or more enclosed compartments. Access to each of the enclosed compartments is controlled by a respective door which is in operative connection with a respective lock. Central system circuitry is in operative connection with the repositories and is operative to control access to the compartments and to cause compartments to be selectively accessible so that selected parcels may be placed therein or removed therefrom by persons authorized to access such parcels. In exemplary arrangements the central system circuitry is operative to determine bundles of parcels to be transported between respective repositories to facilitate the delivery of parcels at the respective delivery locations.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: DANBY PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Jim Estill, Paul McLean
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Patent number: 11521163Abstract: A system for parcel transport and tracking that operates responsive to data bearing records includes a plurality of geographically spaced repositories. The exemplary repositories include a plurality of enclosed compartments. Access to each of the enclosed compartments is controlled by a respective door which is in operative connection with a respective lock. Central system circuitry is in operative connection with the repositories and is operative to control access to the compartments and to cause compartments to be selectively accessible so that selected parcels may be placed therein or removed therefrom by authorized item handlers. The exemplary central system circuitry is further operative to make determinations concerning handling of a plurality of parcels together in respective bundles to facilitate the timely and cost-effective transport of the parcels between repositories.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: DANBY PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Jim Estill, Darren Redfern
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Patent number: 11518292Abstract: A trailer system for a vehicle includes a trailer having a trailer body, wheels, and a trailer tongue for hitching the trailer to a towing vehicle. A rear end of the trailer body is pivotally and detachably attachable at a rear of the vehicle. When attached at the rear of the vehicle, the trailer is pivotable between a stowed position, where the trailer is vertically oriented along the rear of the vehicle, and a lowered position, where the trailer is lowered such that the wheels are at the ground. When attached at the rear of the vehicle and in the stowed position, the front end of the trailer body is at or near an upper region of the vehicle. When attached and in the lowered position, the trailer functions to allow items to be unloaded from the vehicle and onto the trailer body.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: HOP FAMILY INVESTMENTS LLCInventor: Dean Hop
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Patent number: 11521164Abstract: A system for parcel transport and tracking that operates responsive to data bearing records includes a plurality of geographically spaced repositories. The exemplary repositories include a plurality of enclosed compartments. Access to each of the enclosed compartments is controlled by a respective door which is in operative connection with a respective lock. Central system circuitry is in operative connection with the repositories and is operative to control access to the compartments and to cause compartments to be selectively accessible so that selected parcels may be placed therein or removed therefrom by authorized item handlers.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: DANBY PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Jim Estill, Darren Redfern
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Patent number: 11484378Abstract: A hand grip apparatus for receiving operator input includes a body having a proximal end and a distal interface end for coupling to an input apparatus. A first control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end and terminates in a finger grip for receiving one of the operator's fingers. A second control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end terminating in a thumb grip for receiving the operator's thumb. Movement of at least one of the control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement. An input control is included on the body between the grip ends and has an actuator surface angled towards the finger grip end and configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation by one of the operator's fingers.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.Inventors: Thomas Andrew Lutzow, Daniel P. Smith, Peter John Kenneth Cameron
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Patent number: 11464594Abstract: A hand grip apparatus for receiving operator input includes a body having a proximal end and a distal interface end for coupling to an input apparatus. A first control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end and terminates in a finger grip for receiving one of the operator's fingers. A second control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end terminating in a thumb grip for receiving the operator's thumb. Movement of at least one of the control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement. An input control is included on the body between the grip ends and has an actuator surface angled towards the finger grip end and configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation by one of the operator's fingers.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.Inventors: Thomas Andrew Lutzow, Daniel P. Smith, Peter John Kenneth Cameron
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Patent number: 11465888Abstract: A lifting system for a vehicle including a powered winch, a telescopic hoist, jib, or arm and an attachment means on the vehicle for allowing the hoist arm to be pivotally adjusted. The attachment means is provided as a mounting plate which is mounted beneath the vehicle. The mounting plate includes receiving sections that receive a bottom distal end of the telescopic hoist arm. The hoist arm then upwardly extends from the bottom of the mounting plate and is supported to the vehicle using straps. Furthermore, the winch is provided as an integral part of the vehicle which is then fed through to the hoist arm an received by a pulley member located on a distal top end of the hoist arm. The winch is then secured to an anchor which is adapted to receive a load to be transported by the lifting system.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Inventor: Jason Laidler
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Patent number: 11396169Abstract: The cargo liner is configured for use with a cargo carrying vehicle. The cargo liner is a protective structure that covers the supporting surface of the cargo carrying vehicle that supports the cargo. The cargo liner forms a protective barrier that prevents the cargo from damaging the supporting surface. The protective barrier formed by the cargo liner transfers the load of the cargo to the supporting surface of the cargo carrying vehicle that supports the cargo. The cargo liner is formed from a composite material. The cargo liner is temperature resistant. By temperature resistant is meant that has a melting point greater than 500 F (260 C). The composite material that forms the cargo liner has a structure selected from the group consisting of: a) a base structure; b) a flexible structure; and, c) a panel structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Inventor: Damarius Pollard
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Patent number: 11351677Abstract: In the manufacture of certain cosmetics packaging, small metal pans are used to carry the cosmetic material, and these are incorporated in cosmetics carriers. The cosmetic material is initially in a powder form that is compressed into the pan prior to the pan being assembled into a carrier A multi-pan insertion tool includes a control plate and one or more interface plates that can, in turn, be attached to the control plate. Each interface plate corresponds to a different pan configuration. The interface plate includes a plurality of protrusion sites that each correspond to a single pan. An air passage from each protrusion site passes through the tool to the valve on the control plate that is controlled by an operator (either open or closed). A vacuum hose is attached to the valve to create the necessary vacuum/suction. The operator can then use the tool to pick up multiple pans at once, using suction, and then deposit the pans into a press for powder loading and then compression of the powder.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Oxygen Development LLCInventor: Jeronimo Olea
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Patent number: 11322380Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a substrate transfer system, which includes a main body, a tray cassette base, a tray aligner, a tray robot, a substrate cassette base, a substrate aligner, a substrate robot and a Bernoulli robot. The tray can be transferred to the tray aligner by the tray robot. The substrate can be transferred to the substrate aligner by the substrate robot. By the Bernoulli robot, the substrate can be transferred from the substrate aligner to the tray on the tray aligner.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: SKY TECH INC.Inventors: Jing-Cheng Lin, Jung-Hua Chang
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Patent number: 11287804Abstract: A mobile manufacturing platform including a control unit; a manufacturing unit operatively coupled to the control unit, the manufacturing unit configured to fabricate a component using an automated manufacturing process based on a three-dimensional solid model of the component; and a quality test unit operatively coupled to the control unit and configured to perform testing on one of the component and a sample of material used to fabricate the component; wherein the platform is configured for transport via a vehicle to a worksite.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventors: Timofey Sitnikov, Jason White Bradley, Paul Gifford, Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu
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Patent number: 11279021Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a robot is provided. In this robot, direct teaching can be performed while updating a position command on the basis of an applied external force. In the method and apparatus, a proximity region is set inside a boundary of an operation-allowed range of the robot, the proximity region being indicative of a proximity of the boundary. Stored is an external force applied when a monitoring point provided in the robot reaches the proximity region as a reference external force. And performed is comparing the reference external force with a current external force when a current position of the monitoring point is in the proximity region, to thereby determine a direction that facilitates movement away from the proximity region.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATEDInventors: Masanori Sato, Yuto Kawachi
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Patent number: 11186261Abstract: A parked freight trailer stabilizer and restraint comprising: (a) a kingpin receiver configured to lock onto a kingpin of a parked freight trailer; (b) a jack operatively coupled to the kingpin receiver, the jack repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position; (c) a tail hold operatively coupled to the kingpin receiver, the tail hold repositionable between a stowed position and a restraining position, the tail hold configured to engage a ground mount; and, (d) a transport receiver configured to engage a transport vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Stabilock, LLCInventor: Thomas Terrance Kimener
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Patent number: 11053025Abstract: A method and system for alleviating a load is provided. A support system is positioned at a nominal location with respect to an object. The support system comprises jacks and supports. Each of the supports is associated with one of the jacks. The object is positioned on the support system. The support system with the object is moved across a path. The height of each of the jacks is adjusted as the support system moves along the path to maintain a desired minimum load on each jack. Maintaining the desired minimum load prevents damage to the object.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Benjamin Samuel Merrit, Patrick B. Stone, Don J. Russell, Brennan John Dunlap
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Patent number: 10923381Abstract: An electrostatic chuck device includes: an electrostatic chuck part which incorporates an internal electrode for electrostatic attraction and has a placing surface on which a plate-like sample is placed; a base part which cools the electrostatic chuck part; and an adhesion layer which bonds the electrostatic chuck part and the base part to integrate the parts together, in which a first through-hole is provided in the electrostatic chuck part, a second through-hole that communicates with the first through-hole is provided in the base part, a tubular insulator is fixed in the second through-hole, an annular sealing member is sandwiched between the electrostatic chuck part and a distal end surface of the insulator, wherein the distal end surface is located on the electrostatic chuck part side of the insulator, and a tubular insulating wall member is located at the inner side of the sealing member in the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Mamoru Kosakai, Yukio Miura, Kazunori Ishimura, Keisuke Maeda, Hitoshi Kouno, Yuuki Kinpara, Shinichi Maeta, Tomomi Ito
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Patent number: 10923378Abstract: A method for transferring components from a transfer head to a receiving substrate is disclosed. The method includes monitoring signals indicative of a pitch mismatch between locations on the transfer head and locations on the receiving substrate and actuating at least one actuator based at least in part on the monitored signals to reduce the mismatch of the pitch of the locations on the transfer head and the locations on the receiving substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Javier I Guzman, I-Fei Tsu, Michael J Conover, Declan Macken
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Patent number: 10759600Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring case units to and from predefined storage areas in an automated case unit storage system, the automated case unit storage system including an array of multilevel storage racks with picking aisles passing therebetween and at least one multilevel vertical conveyor having movable shelves, the autonomous transport vehicle including a frame configured to traverse the picking aisles and a transfer deck connecting the picking aisles to the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor for transferring case units between the predefined storage areas and the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor, and a controller connected to the frame, the controller being configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle through the picking aisles for accessing each storage area within a respective level of the array of multilevel storage racks and each shelf of the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Symbotic LLCInventors: Robert Sullivan, John Lert, Stephen C. Toebes, Foster Hinshaw, Nathan Ulrich
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Patent number: 10697257Abstract: A system includes a casing running tool and a tubular measurement system coupled to an internal shaft of the casing running tool and configured to measure data indicative of a grappling force of the casing running tool on a tubular. The measured data indicative of the grappling force includes a number of turns of the internal shaft and/or a torque experienced by the internal shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.Inventors: Brian Dale Dewald, Doug Christian Greening
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Patent number: 10625421Abstract: The control system includes a first controller, a second controller, and a third controller. The third controller includes a first communication module, a second communication module, and a control processing module configured to output a first operation command for operating the first controlled object to the first controller via the first communication module, configured to output a second operation command for operating the second controlled object to the second controller via the second communication module, configured to acquire information on a current position of the first controlled object from the first controller via the first communication module, and configured to correct the second operation command on a basis of information on the current position of the first controlled object.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Inventors: Masao Ojima, Kazuo Fujino