Article Handling Patents (Class 700/213)
  • Patent number: 11610167
    Abstract: In some implementations, a warehouse management system is used. An order manager receives an order requiring an item to be moved to a first physical location. Data of the order is stored. The data for the order is accessed. A target item matching the required item to be moved is identified. Data representing a logical location of a target item is accessed. The workload manager identifies based on the data representing the logical location of the target item one or more tasks that are configured to move the target item to the first location. The tasks can be performed to move the target items to the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Dejong, Aaron Zirbes
  • Patent number: 11593730
    Abstract: Provided is a schedule creation device for creating a conveyance schedule according to which a conveyance device conveys a product to work positions designated for each manufacturing process. Said schedule creation device sets a first score to the work positions and to a conveyance path of the conveyance device; sets a second score for products; and uses the first score and the second score to determine the product to be conveyed by the conveyance device from among products present at a plurality of work positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuki Takazaki
  • Patent number: 11579610
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a target aerial vehicle, deploying an interceptor aerial vehicle comprising at least one effector, maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to a position to engage a target aerial vehicle, deploying the at least one effector to intercept the target aerial vehicle, and confirming that the target aerial vehicle has been intercepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, Michael Franklin Morgan
  • Patent number: 11565414
    Abstract: A machining control system includes: a numerical control device controlling a machine tool; and a robot control device communicating with the numerical control device and controlling a robot having a plurality of drive axes. The numerical control device includes: a coordinate position command generation unit generating a coordinate position command specifying a target coordinate position at each time of a leading end part of the robot, based on a machining program; and a communication unit sending the current target coordinate position to the robot control device. The robot control device includes: a target drive position calculation unit calculating a target drive position of each of the plurality of drive axes to position the leading end part at the target coordinate position; and a drive command generation unit generating a drive command to each of the drive axes to position the drive axes at the calculated target drive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nao Ooshima, Shunichi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11550968
    Abstract: A system including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform certain acts. The acts can include obtaining a route for delivering one or more orders in a trailer from a distribution center to physical stores in a sequence of stops. The route can have an associated assignment of stack groups comprising stacks of pallets. The acts also can include determining a load design for the stacks in the trailer based on the sequence of the stops in the route. The acts additionally can include updating the load design using a first simulated annealing to adjust a front-to-rear center-of-gravity of the load design. The acts further can include updating the load design using a second simulated annealing to adjust a side-to-side center-of-gravity of the load design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Jing Huang, Minghui Liu, Mingang Fu, Amritayan Nayak
  • Patent number: 11548038
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for optimizing sorting and loading of packages are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a memory storing instructions and may include at least one processor configured to execute the instructions. The system may perform operations including receiving data comprising a plurality of package identifiers associated with a plurality of packages. The operations may include determining a plurality of block areas associated with delivery locations for the plurality of packages. The operations may further include determining a delivery route by determining a first set of routes, determining optimal combinations of the inputs for each set of routes and determining a shortest route associated with the optimal combinations. The operations may include determining an order in which to load each of the packages into a delivery vehicle. The operations may further include generating instructions for causing a device to display a visual representation of the loading order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: COUPANG CORP.
    Inventors: Wenting Mo, Yoo Suk Kim, Sun Seung Lee, Sen Yang, Hongyuan Li, Changquan Piao
  • Patent number: 11545374
    Abstract: A device for transferring components from a first carrier to a second carrier. A first receptacle receives the first carrier so that components carried by the first carrier are oriented towards a second receptacle. A separating device separates the components from the first carrier for transfer to the second carrier. A first conveyor moves the first receptacle transverse to the conveying direction of the second carrier. A second conveyor moves the separating device transverse to the conveying direction of the second carrier. A first inspection device detects one of the components in its position relative to a storage position on the second receptacle guiding the second carrier. A second inspection device is arranged upstream of the storage position and detects one of the subassemblies on the second carrier relative to the second receptacle and signals the position of the subassembly to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MUEHLBAUER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Marcel Freimuth, Alexander Ruhland
  • Patent number: 11527008
    Abstract: A robot control device includes an obtaining unit that obtains, from an image sensor that captures a workpiece group to be handled by a robot, a captured image, a simulation unit that simulates operation of the robot, and a control unit that performs control such that the captured image is obtained if, in the simulation, the robot is retracted from an image capture forbidden space, in which an image is potentially captured with the workpiece group and the robot overlapping each other, and which is set based on either or both a first space being the visual field range of the image sensor, and a columnar second space obtained by taking a workpiece region including the workpiece group or each of divided regions into which the workpiece region is divided, as a bottom area, and extending the bottom area to the position of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Haruka Fujii, Toshihiro Moriya, Takeshi Kojima, Norikazu Tonogai
  • Patent number: 11526836
    Abstract: A system including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform certain acts. The acts can include obtaining orders for fulfillment to physical stores from a distribution center. There can be one or more respective stack groups associated with each of the orders. The acts also can include generating a set of feasible route templates for delivering the orders to the physical stores. The acts additionally can include formulating a mixed integer programming formulation for an assignment of the respective stack groups associated with the orders to the set of route templates. The acts further can include using an optimization solver for the mixed integer programming formation to determine the assignment that minimizes an overall cost of delivering the orders to the physical stores from the distribution center. The acts additionally can include outputting the assignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Minghui Liu, Jing Huang, Mingang Fu, Amritayan Nayak
  • Patent number: 11505436
    Abstract: An overhead system assists an operator in moving an object when the operator imparts a manual force to the object in a shared workspace characterized by overlapping ranges of motion of the robot and operator. The system includes an articulated serial robot, a cable, sensors, and a control system. One end of the cable connects to a distal end link of the robot. Another end of the cable connects to the object to suspend the object. The sensors measure a cable force and/or angle. The control system regulates operation of the robot by translating vertically and horizontally in response to the cable force and/or angle. The control system limits the position and/or velocity of the end link according to corresponding work space rules, including respective position and velocity limits, such that the system is immune to a single-point failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad E. Abdallah, James W. Wells
  • Patent number: 11488235
    Abstract: Examples include a HUD that (i) identifies a fulfillment route comprising item entries, each comprising an item identifier and item location corresponding to a location within a given environment, (ii) presents a visualization corresponding to a first item entry that includes an indication of a first item location, (iii) based on a first sound and/or visual input, verifies that there is an instance of a first item identified in the first item entry, (iv) based on the verification, presents a placement visualization representing item receptacles in the given environment and a placement indication identifying a target item receptacle that is to receive the first item, (v) based on a second sound and/or visual input, determines that the target item receptacle received the first item, and (vi) based on the determination, presents a second visualization corresponding to a second item entry that includes an indication of a second item location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Oculogx Inc.
    Inventor: Charu Thomas
  • Patent number: 11488436
    Abstract: Computerized locker banks and related computing systems, according to various embodiments, are adapted to track consignee-specific and non-consignee-specific data regarding the pickup of parcels from particular locker banks (or other alternate delivery locations) and to use that information to forecast inventories for the particular locker banks over time. For example, the system may use this information, and/or other suitable information, to generate a set of projected inventories for a particular locker bank for each sequential two-hour block of time on a particular day. This information may be used to determine which locker bank to route a particular parcel to. This may be especially useful in the context of “not-in-one” deliveries in which a delivery driver unsuccessfully attempts to deliver a parcel to a consignee's primary delivery address and the parcel is re-routed to a locker bank or other alternative delivery location for later pickup by the consignee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kalin Robinson
  • Patent number: 11472636
    Abstract: The present application provides a transfer device and a transfer method. The transfer device includes: a frame; a module transfer arm, arranged above the frame and with a number of at least one; a pre-inspection station, arranged on the frame at an initial placement position in a conveying direction of the module transfer arm, and configured to place thereon a target object to be inspected; a post-inspection station, arranged on the frame at a finish-placement position in the conveying direction of the module transfer arm, and configured to place thereon the target object after being inspected; an inspection station, respectively arranged on the frame and between the pre-inspection station and the post-inspection station, and configured to place thereon and inspect the target object; a feed mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Huailiang He
  • Patent number: 11472035
    Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system for production-tuning of parameters for a visual tracking robotic picking system. The robotic picking system includes one or more robots configured to pick randomly-placed and randomly-oriented parts off a conveyor belt and place the parts in an available position, either on a second moving conveyor belt or on a stationary device such as a pallet. A visual tracking system identifies position and orientation of the parts on the feed conveyor. The AR system allows picking system tuning parameters including upstream, discard and downstream boundary locations to be visualized and controlled, real-time robot pick/place operations to be viewed with virtual boundaries, and system performance parameters such as part throughput rate and part allocation by robot to be viewed. The AR system also allows virtual parts to be used in simulations, either instead of or in addition to real parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ganesh Kalbavi, Derek Jung, Leo Keselman, Min-Ren Jean, Kenneth W. Krause, Jason Tsai
  • Patent number: 11424016
    Abstract: A method may include filling an order of a plurality of orders with a dosing filler system. The method may include receiving pharmaceutical orders including order for drugs used in multi-drug regimens using an order processing device. Each of the multi-drug regimen may have a plurality of scheduled dosing events. The method may include transporting containers to a dosing device, using the dosing device to dispense drugs for scheduled dosing events into the containers based on the received pharmaceutical orders, transporting the containers with the dispensed drugs to the container sealing device, using the container sealing device to seal the plurality of the containers with the dispensed drugs, transporting the dosage unit containers to the container identifier assembly, and using the container identifier assembly to identify the dosage unit containers based on the received pharmaceutical order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategie Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11397934
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to one example embodiment is an information processing apparatus that performs a checkout process for a product or a service, and the information processing apparatus includes: a motion unit that causes the information processing apparatus to autonomously move; a detection unit configured to detect a position of a person; and a control unit that controls the motion unit in accordance with the position of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Uchimura
  • Patent number: 11390469
    Abstract: Article takeout apparatus and article takeout method capable of eliminating unnecessary measurements. The article takeout apparatus includes a sensor, a position/posture detector to detect a position/posture of an article in a working area, a robot configured to take out the article, a data storage to store evaluation data to evaluate a plurality of sensor measurement positions corresponding to respective positions at which the sensor measures a plurality of measurement areas, a data update section to update the evaluation data after the measurement area is measured by the sensor and after the article is taken out by the robot, an evaluation value calculator to calculate a comprehensive evaluation value of the working area on the basis of the updated evaluation data, and a sensor position selector to select a next sensor measurement position from among the plurality of sensor measurement positions on the basis of the calculated comprehensive evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Taiga Satou
  • Patent number: 11378975
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer -storage media, for swarming technology. In some implementations, the system can be modeled on the spatial reasoning process found in rodents and other mammals. A plurality of synaptic weights can be formed within a neural network. The neural network along with additional data of a system can be used to determine motion vectors for one or more devices within a group of devices or swarm. The motion vectors can help determine where the devices within a group of devices are located at a given time. Motion vectors can direct devices to areas of high activity in a similar manner to how spatial cells in a brain direct animals in accordance with high activity rates of particular cells within their brain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Grace M. Hwang, Kevin M. Schultz, Robert W. Chalmers, Joseph D. Monaco, Kechen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11358781
    Abstract: An insulated bag reduces heat exchange between temperature-sensitive items and ambient surroundings. The insulated bag has a bag body which can be covered by a bag lid. The bag lid is provided with a first portion of a securing element. The insulated bag is suitable for insertion into an item space of a mobile delivery robot. The mobile robot has a robot lid provided with a complementary second portion of the securing element. After the insulated bag is inserted into the item space, the two portions of the securing element are connected. Thereafter, when the robot lid is opened, the bag lid is also opened, permitting access to its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Starship Technologies OÜ
    Inventors: Lauri Väin, Tommy Biene, Sylvia-Johanna Annus, Piret Uustal
  • Patent number: 11354546
    Abstract: An insect sortation system can track movement of insects along a predefined pathway. The insect sortation system includes a puff-back system for moving insects toward an inlet of the pathway and a puff-forward system for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. An overhead imaging system captures images of the insects at one or more locations along the pathway. Once imaged, the insect may be classified into a category (e.g., sex category, species category, size category, etc.) using a variety of different classification approaches including, for example, an industrial vision classifier and/or a machine learning classifier. Once classified, the insects can be directed to various chambers for subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Victor Criswell, Peter Massaro
  • Patent number: 11348196
    Abstract: A logistics center automation system includes a singulator to which a cluster control for simultaneously moving articles unloaded from a plurality of unloading vehicles is applied, a transport robot configured to deliver the articles moved by the singulator to a loading vehicle corresponding to destination information, a mobile multi-recognizer configured to extract destination information of the transport robot, and a controller configured to control the singulator, the transport robot, and the mobile multi-recognizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Ki Hak Kim
  • Patent number: 11320807
    Abstract: A control device for a conveyor device, comprises a control unit adapted to generate control signals for a conveyor device, a data interface adapted for signal transmission of control signals to the control unit, a first power interface adapted for power supply to the control unit, a connection interface adapted for establishing a signal control connection and a power supply connection between the control unit and a conveyor device located outside the control device. A second power interface is adapted to supply power to the control unit, the first interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a first voltage, the second interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a second voltage or, instead of the second voltage, with a third voltage whose level is different from the level of the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 11317565
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural device for semi-automatic movement of a holding tool, for holding an object, between two positions, said two positions being at different heights. The device comprises said holding tool for holding the object, load sensing means for determining if the holding tool holds an object, driving means (9) for moving the holding tool up and down, a control unit for controlling the driving means, and a user interface for user input to the control unit. The device can be used in two modes of operations, wherein the holding tool in a first mode of operation is freely movably, and in a second mode of operation is semi-automatically movable between a plurality of determined positions (URP, UPP, LRP, LPP) depending on if the holding tool is holding an object or not, and which command is given to the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ÅLÖ AB
    Inventors: Tomas Nygren, Gustaf Lagunoff, David Wiberg
  • Patent number: 11319153
    Abstract: A floor-to-floor transport system that transports an article between different floors by using an upward path and a downward path in a vertical transporter that revolves in one direction includes, on at least one floor: a loading transport line that transports to the vertical transporter an article to be transported to another floor; a first loading opening through which the article is loaded into the upward path in the vertical transporter; a second loading opening through which the article is loaded into the downward path in the vertical transporter; a transferor that selectively transfers to the first loading opening or the second loading opening an article transported by the loading transport line; and a controller that controls the transferor depending on a destination of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 11315073
    Abstract: Described is a system and method for presenting event information to a user and, if necessary, obtaining confirmation of different aspects (user, item, action) of the event. In some implementations, an event includes a user, an action, and an item. For example, an event may include a user picking an item from an inventory location, a user placing an item into a tote associated with the user, etc. if the aspects of the event cannot be determined with a high enough degree of confidence, a user interface may be generated and sent to the user requesting confirmation of one or more of the aspects of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Famularo, Amber Autrey Taylor, Dilip Kumar, Gianna Lise Puerini, Thomas Meilandt Mathiesen
  • Patent number: 11299347
    Abstract: The present invention provides a material transportation system, a material transportation method and a material storage apparatus. The material storage apparatus is provided with a movable storage rack, wherein the movable storage rack is configured for carrying a plurality of material boxes and can be separated from the material storage apparatus; and an automatic transportation apparatus can move freely along any route in any direction, wherein the automatic transportation apparatus is configured for carrying the movable storage rack. Moreover, the movable storage rack is sent to be in front of the material storage apparatus or transported from the material storage apparatus to a target storage position. The present invention simultaneously transports a plurality of material boxes between the material storage apparatuses and between the material storage apparatus and the processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Fortrend Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kung Wu
  • Patent number: 11300016
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes a drive-side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a driven-side rotating body that rotates with a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, an electric motor that controls a relative rotation phase of the drive-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body, a motor control unit that controls a current supplied to the electric motor, a current sensor that detects the current flowing into the electric motor, a regulation unit that determines a regulation phase in which the relative rotation phase is mechanically limited in an advanced angle direction and in a delayed angle direction, and a regulation phase detection unit that detects the regulation phase based on when the relative rotation phase in which a change is stopped by the regulation unit is reached and a current value detected by the current sensor increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Amano, Shogo Katsuki, Takano Nakai, Kenichiro Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Toru Hirota
  • Patent number: 11302543
    Abstract: A substrate carrier apparatus includes a hand, an advancing/retracting mechanism, an elevation mechanism, a movement mechanism, and a detector. The advancing/retracting mechanism moves the hand in a forward and backward direction to cause the hand to enter and be retracted from a substrate container. The elevation mechanism elevates the hand so that the hand lifts a substrate from below. The movement mechanism moves the hand to a position facing the substrate container. The detector detects a position of the substrate in the forward and backward direction in an entry state where the advancing/retracting mechanism causes the hand to enter the substrate container, moves integrally with the hand, and is disposed at a position adjacent to the substrate in a measurement direction intersecting with the forward and backward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 11235929
    Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tye Michael Brady, Darren Ernest Canavor, Ethan Zane Evans, Pragyana K. Mishra, Hilliard Bruce Siegel
  • Patent number: 11213954
    Abstract: Whether or not workpieces are present in a workpiece storage area is determined based on an image acquired by image capturing. When the workpieces are determined to be present, whether or not a crossing part is present in the workpiece storage area is determined based on the image, the crossing part being a part where soft body portions of a plurality of workpieces cross each other in an overlapping manner. When the crossing part is determined to be present, an uppermost soft body portion placed at an uppermost position among the soft body portions crossing each other is determined based on the image. A workpiece including the uppermost soft body portion thus determined is determined as an uppermost workpiece placed at an uppermost position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Tsukui
  • Patent number: 11141864
    Abstract: A detection system includes a first detection apparatus that detects an object that is being moved, within a predetermined detection region, a number of times, a work-data creation device that creates, every time the first detection apparatus detects the object, work data having a first data element that indicates at least a position of the object obtained by the first detection apparatus and a second data element that includes at least an index related to the object and obtained at the time of the detection, and a work-data storage unit that stores the work data created by the work-data creation means. The work-data storage unit selects, as the work data that should be stored, one of the work data that is newly created for the object and the work data for the object that has been stored by the work-data storage unit, on the basis of the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba
  • Patent number: 11127618
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically compensating position errors of a sample. The system can comprise one or more sensing units configured to generate a signal based on a position of a sample and a controller. The controller can be configured to determine the position of the sample based on the signal and in response to the determined position, provide information associated with the determined position for control of one of a first handling unit in a first chamber, a second handling unit in a second chamber, and a beam location unit in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Fangfu Li
  • Patent number: 11099546
    Abstract: A calculation amount and calculation time for a substrate conveyance schedule are reduced. A scheduler is provided which is incorporated in a control section of a substrate processing apparatus including a plurality of substrate processing sections that process a substrate, a conveyance section that conveys the substrate, and the control section that controls the conveyance section and the substrate processing sections, and calculates a substrate conveyance schedule. The scheduler includes: a modeling section that models processing conditions, processing time and constraints of the substrate processing apparatus into nodes and edges using a graph network theory, prepares a graph network, and calculates a longest route length to each node; and a calculation section that calculates the substrate conveyance schedule based on the longest route length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nonobe, Takashi Mitsuya, Ryuya Koizumi, Kunio Oishi
  • Patent number: 11089721
    Abstract: A loose component supply device in which a stage on which components are scattered is imaged by an imaging device and the area of the stage imaged by the imaging device is divided into 20×20 blocks. A difference value between first imaging data that is imaging data of the stage without any components loaded and second imaging data that is imaging data of the stage after component supply has been started and components replenished onto the stage is calculated for each block. If the difference value is equal to or greater than a threshold value, it is determined that a component is present in the block, and if it is determined that the quantity of blocks for which it is determined that a component is present is equal to or less than a set quantity, components are replenished to the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio Sugihara
  • Patent number: 11066280
    Abstract: A container crane control system including: a camera configured to be fixedly mounted to a crane to obtain a series of captured images, a video output configured to provide a video signal including a series of cropped image based on the series of captured images; and a control device configured to, for at least part of the captured images and the respective cropped image, receive an input signal indicating a current height of a load of the crane, wherein the control device is configured to control a position of the respective cropped image within the captured image based on the current height of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Peter Almhager, Stefan Lindberg, Uno Bryfors
  • Patent number: 11065171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assistive glove for daily activities of stroke patient which comprises a main body, a first pulling member, a second pulling member, and plural circular strings. The main body comprises a thumb sleeve, at least one finger sleeve a palm portion connected to the thumb sleeve and the at least one finger sleeve by one side and a wrist portion connected to another side of the palm portion. The first pulling member and the second pulling member are disposed on the palm portion and having a first hook and at least one second hook corresponding to the thumb sleeve and the at least one finger sleeve. The plural circular strings are hung on the first hook and the at least one second hook and fixed to the thumb sleeve and the at least one finger sleeve respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yang-Kun Ou, Ya-Lin Chen, Chien-Wei Fu, Yi-Hsuan Liu, Ying-Ning Tseng, You-Shan Li
  • Patent number: 11040839
    Abstract: A system for transporting containers using heavy goods vehicles which comprises a separate operating region in which the heavy goods vehicles can be operated, with at least one automated heavy goods vehicle and at least one manually driven heavy goods vehicle being operated together in a mixed traffic situation in the separate operating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Konecranes Global Corporation
    Inventors: Armin Wieschemann, Stefan Aldejohann, Heiko Schulz, Jan-Philipp Schmidt-Ewig, Heinz Eichner
  • Patent number: 11027426
    Abstract: A robot system is provided with a robot, a hand, and a range sensor that acquires information about a distance to a workpiece. Claw parts of the hand include grip regions having a shape for gripping the workpiece. A controller stops the robot when the hand collides with the workpiece. The controller determines whether or not a target workpiece can be gripped by a part other than the grip regions of the hand. When it is determined that the target workpiece can be gripped by the part other than the grip regions, the controller performs control for gripping the target workpiece by using the hand, and for moving the target workpiece inside a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadanori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11023174
    Abstract: A system and method of combining move commands of an automated data storage library is disclosed that includes receiving a first command from a host system to remove a first data storage cartridge from a data storage drive of the automated data storage library; maintaining the first data storage cartridge within the data storage drive until receiving a second command from the host system to move a second data storage cartridge into the data storage drive; responding to the host system with a successful move completion status of the first data storage cartridge from the data storage drive, even though the first data storage cartridge is maintained within the data storage drive; and updating a cartridge inventory for the host system to indicate that the first data storage cartridge is located in a requested storage slot location after receiving the first command from the host system to remove the first data storage cartridge from the data storage drive, even though the first data storage cartridge is maintained
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Goodman, Lee Jesionowski, Kenny Nian Gan Qiu
  • Patent number: 11015758
    Abstract: Radial counterbalance mechanisms and related techniques are provided to improve the accuracy and reliability of gimbal systems. A radial counterbalance system includes a radial counterbalance mechanism, an orientation sensor, and a logic device. The radial counterbalance mechanism includes a counterbalance weight and a motor configured to adjust a radial position of the counterbalance weight. The orientation sensor is configured to provide an orientation of a payload coupled to the gimbal ring, a platform coupled to the gimbal ring, and/or the gimbal ring. The logic device is configured to determine a compensating radial weight position for the counterbalance weight based, at least in part, on a received orientation, and to control the motor to position the counterbalance weight at the compensating radial weight position. The compensating radial weight position is configured to reduce a radial displacement of a center of gravity of the payload from the rotational axis of the gimbal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FLIR Surveillance, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Espersen, Charles Rush
  • Patent number: 10984378
    Abstract: In one implementation, a system for automatically profiling pallets includes a frame defining an opening that is sized and shaped for a pallet to pass through, and cameras mounted to the frame, the cameras being configured to capture images of a pallet as it passes through the frame. The system further includes a profiling computer system that is configured to receive the images captured by the cameras and to automatically profile the pallet based, at least in part, on analysis of the images. Automatically profiling the pallet includes generating a point cloud representing the pallet based on the images, determining a size of the pallet based on the point cloud generated from images of the pallet, identifying contents of the pallet based on the images, and providing pallet information identifying, at least, the size and contents of the pallet to a warehouse management system in association with the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Lineage Logistics, LLC, Cloud 9 Perception, LP
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Aalam Shaikh, Chris McMurrough, James Staud, Caitlin Voegele, Tony Taurone, Daniel Thomas Wintz, Maxwell Micali, Charles Inokon, Michael Buenger, Elliott Gerard Wolf
  • Patent number: 10977867
    Abstract: Embodiments include techniques for a method and system for an augmented reality-based aircraft cargo monitoring and control system. The embodiments include a controlling device in communication with a master control panel (MCP), wherein the controlling device include a capturing module that is configured to receive an image and an object identification module that is configured to detect an identifier of an object from the image. The controlling device also includes a tracking module that is configured to track movement of the object, a rendering module that is configured to overlay an indicator over the image, and a microprojector that is configured to project the image on a display, wherein the display configured to display the mode and status of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rameshkumar Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 10953539
    Abstract: A substrate transfer robot, first and second sensors are provided in a hand such that a planar-view intersection point of optical axes is located on a center of a substrate when the hand holds the substrate in planar view, and a control device operates an arm, scans a target placed at a teaching position with the first and second sensors, and acquires the teaching position when the target is located at the planar-view intersection point of the optical axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KAWASAKI ROBOTICS (USA), INC.
    Inventors: Masaya Yoshida, Hajime Nakahara, Mark Tang
  • Patent number: 10919709
    Abstract: The present disclosure shows an apparatus for the automated removal of workpieces arranged in a bin, said apparatus having a first object recognition device for detecting the workpieces in the bin; a first picker for picking and removing the workpieces from the bin; a controller for evaluating the data of the first object recognition device, for path planning and for controlling the first picker; and a transport device on which the workpieces removed from the bin are placed. Provision is made that a robot arm that is used for placing the workpieces on the transport device is arranged on a pedestal above the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Mattern, David Haenschke, Bernhard Riedmiller
  • Patent number: 10836575
    Abstract: A storage rack includes a plurality of storage portions each configured to store a container. The container has a supported portion and an intake portion in a bottom surface of the container, the intake portion supplying gas into the container, wherein the center of gravity of the container is located between the supported portion and the intake portion as seen along a vertical direction. Provided to each of the storage portions are a container support in which a support surface is formed for supporting the supported portion from below, a nozzle configured to contact the intake portion from below to supply gas into the container through the intake portion, and a restriction member configured to contact a side surface of the container when stored on the storage portion to restrict movement of the container along a horizontal direction. The container is supported only by the support surface and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Tadahiro Yoshimoto, Naoyuki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10824138
    Abstract: A calculation amount and calculation time for a substrate conveyance schedule are reduced. A scheduler is provided which is incorporated in a control section of a substrate processing apparatus including a plurality of substrate processing sections that process a substrate, a conveyance section that conveys the substrate, and the control section that controls the conveyance section and the substrate processing sections, and calculates a substrate conveyance schedule. The scheduler includes: a modeling section that models processing conditions, processing time and constraints of the substrate processing apparatus into nodes and edges using a graph network theory, prepares a graph network, and calculates a longest route length to each node; and a calculation section that calculates the substrate conveyance schedule based on the longest route length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nonobe, Takashi Mitsuya, Ryuya Koizumi, Kunio Oishi
  • Patent number: 10725462
    Abstract: A synchronization primitive provides robots with locks, monitors, semaphores, or other mechanisms for reserving temporary access to a shared limited set of resources required by the robots in performing different tasks. Through non-conflicting establishment of the synchronization primitives across the set of resources, robots can prioritize the order with which assigned tasks are completed and minimize wait times for resources needed to complete each of the assigned tasks, thereby maximizing the number of tasks simultaneously executed by the robots and optimizing task completion. The synchronization primitives and resulting resource allocation can be implemented with a centralized coordinator or with peer-to-peer robotic messaging, whereby private keys and blockchains secure the precedence and establishment of synchronization primitives by different robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: inVia Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph Charles Voorhies, Lior Elazary, Daniel Frank Parks, II
  • Patent number: 10719060
    Abstract: A method for optimizing at least one motion profile, a computer program product for performing the method and a related control device for this purpose, wherein commencing from a master motion profile, at least one slave motion profile describes a motion of an actuator, the respective slave motion profile being connected via a cam disk function and/or a kinematic transformation, where the motion profiles are divided into areas, based constraints of slave motion profiles, the maximum speed of the master motion profile is computed for each area, a difference between the highest and the lowest maximum speed is selected, the area having the highest maximum speed is subsequently reduced, and the area having the lowest maximum speed is enlarged, until the difference between the two maximum speeds is less than a tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Mattil, Sebastian Thiemann, Andreas Werner
  • Patent number: 10685357
    Abstract: A method of authorizing transactions is provided that includes receiving from a user an action parameter, associating the action parameter with a user profile associated with the user, storing the action parameter, receiving an authorization request from a merchant for a transaction with the user, comparing the action parameter with transaction identification information, and sending an authorization response in response to comparing the action parameter with transaction identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Kathi Bernstein, David Ockwell, Michael Stuart Smith
  • Patent number: 10654174
    Abstract: An end of arm tool subassembly includes three identical linear drive mechanisms connected directly together to provide three directions of movement. Each linear drive mechanism includes a base defined by a longitudinal axis and a slide movably coupled to the base. The base has at least one mounting surface disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis and an end mounting surface disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The slide traverses in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and has a slide mounting surface thereon. One of the identical linear drive mechanisms is directly attached to the end mounting surface of the base of another linear drive mechanism to provide two of the three directions of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Boaz Eidelberg, Matthew Quigley, Ralph Weinmuller, Patrick Haran, Mustansir Faizullabhoy, Thomas Pilock, Jack Zhu, Stephen Vidler, Anwar Chitayat