The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

John Walter Pringle, Iv

Angelica Davancens

Raul Tomuta

Martin Hanna Guirguis

Chris J Erickson

Jake Boyce Weinmann

Don David Trend

Frederick B Frontiera

John Joseph Brown

Richard Philip Topf

Rodney Stephen Wright

Solomon Tadesse Atsebha

Tuong Q Nguyen

Derek Adam Nelson

Marcos Robert Vaughn Espinosa

Dehwei Oliver Hsu

Branko Sarh

Chin Hoi Toh

David Hassan Amirehteshami

Nicholas Ryan Farrell

Trent Rob Logan

Thomas C Hanson

Ted Khong

Jose G Trujillo Rojas

Ryan Vutha Touch

Martin Edward Lozano

Mark Blumenkrantz

Surajit Roy

David Pedersen

Matt Barnhart

David Lepore

Yousef Aziz

Jigar Patel

Steve Andres Sandoval

A robot end effector () for dispensing an extrudable substance () comprises a chassis (), a static mixer (), and cartridge bays (), extending from the chassis (). Each of the cartridge bays () is shaped to receive a corresponding one of the two-part cartridges (). Fluidic communication between the selected one of the two-part cartridges () and the static mixer () is established when the cartridge bays () are moved to a predetermined position with respect to the chassis (). The robot end effector () comprises a dispensing valve (), attached to the chassis (), and a head assembly (), comprising pairs of fittings (). Each of the pairs of fittings () is configured to selectively supply compressed air from a pressure source () to contents of a corresponding one of the two-part cartridges ().

Robot end effector for dispensing an extrudable substance

A method of cleaning a surface includes steps of: urging brushes of a cleaning device against the surface; providing solvent to the surface via a solvent supply that passes through a housing of the cleaning device; rotating a drive gear about a drive-gear rotational axis to drive driven gears about corresponding driven-gear rotational axes inside the housing to rotate the brushes; and evacuating material from the surface via a vacuum tube, passing through the housing.

Methods for cleaning surfaces with brushes

A robot end effector for dispensing an extrudable substance comprises a chassis, cartridge bays, attached to the chassis and each shaped to receive a corresponding one of two-part cartridges, and a manifold, comprising a manifold outlet, manifold inlets, and a valve inlet. When the two-part cartridges are received by the cartridge bays, the manifold inlets are in fluidic communication with corresponding ones of the two-part cartridges via static mixers, attached to cartridge outlets of the two-part cartridges. The robot end effector additionally comprises a head assembly, comprising pairs of fittings, configured to selectively supply compressed air from a pressure source to the two-part cartridges when the two-part cartridges are received by the cartridge bays, so that contents of the two-part cartridges are concurrently extruded through the cartridge outlets.

A robot end effector for dispensing an extrudable substance comprises a chassis and cartridge bays, attached to the chassis and each shaped to receive a corresponding one of two-part cartridges. Robot end effector also comprises a dispensing valve, attached to the chassis and comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet, in selective fluidic communication with the valve inlet. Robot end effector further comprises a manifold, comprising a manifold outlet and manifold inlets. The manifold outlet is in fluidic communication with the valve inlet. Robot end effector additionally comprises a plunger assembly, comprising pairs of plungers. Plunger assembly is arranged to concurrently extrude contents of the two-part cartridges through the cartridge outlets when the two-part cartridges are received by the cartridge bays. Robot end effector also comprises a non-rotating linear pneumatic actuator, configured to selectively move the plunger assembly relative to the chassis.

A robot end effector () for dispensing an extrudable substance () comprises cartridge bays (). Each one of the cartridge bays () is shaped to receive one of two-part cartridges (). Each of the two-part cartridges () comprises a cartridge outlet (). The robot end effector () also comprises a head assembly (), comprising pairs of fittings (). Each pair of the pairs of fittings () is configured to selectively supply compressed air from a pressure source () to contents of one of the two-part cartridges () when the two-part cartridges () are received by the cartridge bays () and the cartridge bays () are translated along a first axis () and along a second axis () so that the cartridge outlet () of the corresponding one of the two-part cartridges () is in fluidic communication with the mixer inlet ().

Positive displacement end effector with multiple cartridges

A robot end effector () for dispensing an extrudable substance () comprises a chassis (), a static mixer (), and cartridge bays (), extending from the chassis (). Each of the cartridge bays () is shaped to receive a corresponding one of the two-part cartridges (). Fluidic communication between the selected one of the two-part cartridges () and the static mixer () is established when the cartridge bays () are rotated about an axis () to a predetermined orientation with respect to the chassis (). The robot end effector () also comprises a dispensing valve (), attached to the chassis (), and a head assembly (), comprising an inlet manifold (). The inlet manifold () is configured to selectively supply compressed air from a pressure source () to contents of a corresponding one of the two-part cartridges ().

Robot end effector with rotating barrel for dispensing an extrudable substance

A robot end effector for dispensing an extrudable substance comprises a chassis and cartridge bays, attached to the chassis and each shaped to receive a corresponding one of two-part cartridges. Robot end effector also comprises a dispensing valve, attached to the chassis and comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet. The valve outlet is in selective fluidic communication with the valve inlet. Robot end effector further comprises a manifold, comprising a manifold outlet and manifold inlets, which are in fluidic communication with the manifold outlet. Robot end effector additionally comprises a plunger assembly, comprising pairs of plungers and arranged to concurrently extrude contents of the two-part cartridges through the cartridge outlets. Robot end effector also comprises an electric motor, attached to the chassis and configured to selectively move the plunger assembly relative to the chassis.

An apparatus for dispensing a flowable material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rotary actuator, a reservoir, containing a hydraulic fluid, a piston, movable inside the reservoir, a linear actuator, coupled to the piston, a gear train, coupling the rotary actuator with the linear actuator, and a flowable-material dispenser, hydraulically coupled with the reservoir.

Apparatuses for dispensing flowable materials

A method of depositing an extrudable substance onto a surface comprises (1) with a cartridge positioned inside a sleeve between an inner tubular sleeve wall and an outer tubular sleeve wall, circumscribing the inner tubular sleeve wall, and also positioned between a push-lock pressure cap, hermetically coupled with the cartridge, and a valve, communicatively coupled with the cartridge, linearly moving an annular plunger, received between an inner tubular cartridge wall and an outer tubular cartridge wall, circumscribing the inner tubular cartridge wall, toward the valve along a first axis to urge the extrudable substance from the cartridge, through the valve, and out of a nozzle that is communicatively coupled with the valve; and (2) controlling flow of the extrudable substance from the valve to the nozzle.

Methods for depositing an extrudable substance onto a surface

A feeder for a swage gun comprises a collar magazine and a guide-block assembly. The guide-block assembly comprises a guide block that comprises a slot, configured to receive the lock collar from the collar magazine at a first guide-block position along the slot. The guide-block assembly also comprises an actuator, operable to move the lock collar along the slot from the first guide-block position to a second guide-block position. Feeder further comprises a feed tunnel, coupled with the guide-block assembly, and a dispensing bulkhead, coupled with the feed tunnel. Feeder also comprises a gripping assembly, coupled with the dispensing bulkhead.

End effectors and feeders for swaging operations

A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve when a pressure cap, coupled to the sleeve proximate the inlet, is in an open position. The method additionally comprises moving the pressure cap into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge. The method also comprises selectively causing an automated coupler to automatically sealingly couple the applicator with a leading end of the cartridge when the cartridge is inside the sleeve and the pressure cap is in the closed position. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through a first pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge into the applicator.

methods for applying glutinous substances

An applicator for applying a material over a fastener head, protruding from a non-horizontal surface of a part, comprises an enclosure and a daubing lever. The daubing lever passes through the wall of the enclosure and is movably coupled to the enclosure. The daubing lever comprises an actuation end, located on the outer side of the wall of the enclosure, a working end, located opposite the actuation end on the inner side of the wall of the enclosure, and an abutment portion, located at one of the actuation end, the working end, or between the actuation end and the working end. The applicator further comprises a biaser for imparting a moment on the daubing lever to bias the abutment portion of the daubing lever toward the enclosure.

Apparatus for applying materials over fastener heads protruding from non-horizontal surfaces

A cleaning device comprises a housing. The cleaning device also comprises a drive gear that rotates about a drive-gear rotational axis. The cleaning device further comprises driven gears, driven by a drive gear and rotatable about corresponding driven-gear rotational axes inside the housing. The cleaning device further comprises brushes, located outside the housing and each rotatable together with a corresponding one of the driven gears. The cleaning device also comprises a vacuum tube, passing through the drive gear. The cleaning device additionally comprises a solvent supply, passing through the housing.

Cleaning devices

A method of delivering a glutinous substance to a workpiece from an end-effector comprises using the end-effector to position an applicator relative to the workpiece. The method also comprises urging the glutinous substance from the end-effector through a first channel of a body of the applicator from an inlet of the first channel toward an outlet of the first channel. The method additionally comprises selectively operating an actuator of the applicator to regulate a rate, at which the glutinous substance flows through the first channel of the body of the applicator, responsive to, at least in part, output received from a sensor of the applicator.

Methods for delivering glutinous substance to workpiece from end-effector

A receiver-fastener apparatus comprises a receiver-fastener housing, a receiver-fastener turret, an indexing-collet assembly, an anvil, a receiver-fastener delivery assembly, and a swager assembly. The receiver-fastener turret is selectively rotatable relative to the receiver-fastener housing about a receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The indexing-collet assembly is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener housing between an indexing-collet-assembly extended position and an indexing-collet-assembly retracted position along an indexing-collet-assembly axis (Y) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The anvil is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret along an anvil axis (X) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The receiver-fastener delivery assembly is configured to operatively position receiver fasteners for operative placement on shank fasteners, corresponding to the receiver fasteners. The swager assembly is movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret along a swaging axis (W) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z).

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Gardena, CA, United States of America

John Walter Pringle, Iv