Ball Corporation

Ohmeda Inc.

Tandberg Data As

Terralux, Inc.

Stratom, Inc.

Jeffrey P Davies

Ronald D Wertz

Robert H Cormack

Christopher M White

John A Barkley

Donald L Beduhn

Michael J Vega

William H Vermeer

Timothy James Kelly

Mark Gordon

Matthew A Whitlock

John M Elliott

Systems and methods for mounting and using various different accessories on a robotic system such as a unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). A tool library may include interchangeable modules, each module having a number of tool holders. Electronic components may be mounted to each of the modules adjacent to each of the of tool holders that identify the module and tool that is associated with the tool holder. The UGV may have a reader that is capable of reading the electronic components to determine the module and tools that are available for use on the UGV.

Robotic tool interchange system

One or more operating conditions of an LED device is sensed, and the sensed condition is communicated to an LED driver by modulating a load thereof.

Systems and methods for data communication from an LED device to the driver system

A cartridge library () comprises at least one drive (); a cartridge magazine (); and, a transport mechanism () configured to transport the cartridge between the magazine and the drive. The transport mechanism () is configured to transport the cartridge between, e.g., cells of the magazine () and/or between the magazine () and the drive (). The transport mechanism () comprises a robot () and a robot motive system. The robot comprises a robot carriage () and a robot tray (). The robot carriage () carries or comprises cartridge engagement elements () configured to selectively engage and release the cartridge. The robot tray () facilitates linear motion of the robot carriage, the robot carriage being situated on a first side of the robot tray. The robot motive system comprises three robot motive subsystems () and a (robot) carriage motive subsystem (). At least one of the robot motive subsystems and the carriage motive subsystem comprise hardware situated on a second side of the robot tray (), the hardware extending from the second side of the robot tray in the second direction to an extent not substantially greater than the plank height. Locating the hardware of plural subsystems on the second side of the robot tray and within a volume defined by the robot tray and the plank height facilitate not only a transport mechanism, but also a compact and efficient library.

Multi-dimensional transport method and drive subsystems in a cartridge library apparatus

The thermal time of flight signal guard overcomes the leakage crosstalk problem encountered in prior art systems by eliminating the leakage currents in the flow transducer before they reach the temperature sensors. This is accomplished by the installation of a conductive strip into the fluid flow path, interposed between the temperature sensors and the heat source. The conductive strip intercepts any errant leakage currents that are generated by the heat source and carried by moisture which accumulates on the walls of the fluid flow path to the temperature sensor. The signals that pass through the fluid flow conduit past the conductive strip to the temperature sensors are the thermal tracer signals. Therefore, the temperature sensors operate in a leakage current free environment and the signals produced by the temperature sensors are devoid of leakage current noise.

Thermal time of flight signal guard

An optical inspection system which inspects for the presence of color defects in a stream of material (e.g. carpeting, fabric, wall paper, printed matter, or a series of discrete objects) traveling along a production line. The optical inspection system positions one or more optical heads near the stream of material as it moves along the production line without physically interfering or interacting with the movement. Each optical head senses a preselected number of different colors appearing in a predetermined field of view on the stream of material. The optical head produces electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of each sensed color within its field of view during each sample. A computer is utilized to process these electrical signals from each optical head. The computer first generates a number of two color signatures based upon the selected number of colors for each optical head. After a sufficient number of samples have been sensed by the optical head so that all two color signatures are fully developed, the computer senses the colors from each successive sample and compares it to the generated color signatures. If the color pattern from a sample falls outside the generated color signatures, then an error signal is generated.

System for non-contact identification and inspection of color patterns

An optical inspection system which inspects for the presence of defects in colored labels placed, for example, on the side walls of cylindrical beverage cans. The optical inspection system utilizes a conveyor for conveying the beverage cans in a production line where such beverage cans typically are randomly oriented. The optical inspection system positions an optical head near the beverage cans as they move in the production line without physically interfering or interacting with the movement. The optical head senses a preselected number of different colors which appear in a predetermined field of view of each moving can. The cans being randomly oriented have different portions of the label visible in the predetermined field of view which is fixed in position. The optical head produces analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of each sensed color. A computer is utilized to process these analog electrical signals from the optical head. The computer first generates a number of two color signatures based upon the selected number of colors. After sufficient cans have passed the optical head wherein all two color signatures are fully developed, the computer senses the colors from each successive subsequent can and compares it to the generated color signature. If the sensed color pattern falls outside the generated color signatures, then the can fails and an error signal is generated.

System for non-contact colored label identification and inspection and

An optical inspection system which inspects for the presence of defects in colored labels placed, for example, on the side walls of cylindrical beverage cans. The optical inspection system utilizes a conveyor for conveying the beverage cans in a production line where such beverage cans typically are randomly oriented. The optical inspection system positions an optical head near the beverage cans as they move in the production line without physically interferring or interacting with the movement. The optical head senses a preselected number of different colors which appear in a predetermined field of view of each moving can. The cans being randomly oriented have different portions of the label visible in the predetermined field of view which is fixed in position. The optical head produces analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of each sensed color. A computer is utilized to process these analog electrical signals from the optical head. The computer first generates a number of two color signatures based upon the selected number of colors. After sufficient cans have passed the optical head wherein all two color signatures are fully developed, the computer senses the colors from each successive subsequent can and compares it to the generated color signature. if the sensed color pattern falls outside the generated color signatures, then the can fails and an air signal is generated.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, CO, United States of America

Jeffrey P Davies