Other

The State University of New York

Mpi Corporation

Toto Tech, Inc

Basf Fuel Cell Gmbh

Pack Flow Concepts LLC

Aridien, Inc.

Distributed Robotics LLC

Stephen Derby

David A Brown

Raymond H Puffer, Jr

Bruce Phipps

John Culp McFadden

Michael George

Richard Ludwig

Kyle Brookes

Gene Eckert

Mark Allen

Matthew Simon

Robert W Young

Jeffrey M Smith

Jürgen Pawlik

Raymond Puffer

Glen Hoppes

Werner Kraus

Glenn Saunders

Bill R Lyons

Eugene Eckert

Louise Courtois

The sink system () includes a sink support frame () for supporting a sink (). A vertical adjustment mechanism () secured between the sink support frame () and a rear wall () permits selective vertical movement of the sink support frame (). A horizontal adjustment mechanism () secured between the sink support frame () and the sink () permits selective horizontal movement of the sink () away from and toward the rear wall (). Flexible cold and hot water delivery lines () and a flexible drain pipe () are secured between the rear wall () and a bottom surface of the sink. Vertical and horizontal movement of the sink () greatly facilitates use of the sink () by elderly and disabled persons using a wheelchair () and/or a walker. A two-sink cabinet embodiment () is also disclosed.

Vertically and horizontally adjustable sink system for use by persons using a wheelchair and/or a walker

The system () includes a product engager (), a transporter () and a patterned depositor () for engaging products () and transporting the products () from the product engager () to the patterned depositor (), such as between a product bagging machine () that forms and fills a bag (), a conveyor that transports the bags as the products () and delivers them to a case packing machine as the patterned depositor (). The product engager () and the patterned depositor () include first and second drivers () and the transporter () includes an adjustable-length buffer () to compensate for any temporary difference between a first product delivery rate of the product engager () and a rate of movement of the products () passing from the product engager () along the transporter () to the patterned depositor ().

Automated product engager, transporter and patterened depositor system

The folding side-wall container () provides for efficient loading and unloading of the containers appropriate for retail re-supply of goods (). Use of the containers as a distribution container () and a wholesale goods container () within an automated system () for automated transfer by a robotic picker () of goods () from the wholesale container () to the distribution container () minimizes labor costs in distribution of the goods (). The container () includes a folding wall () that is releasably secured in a closed position by a top lid () having an engagement lip () that secures a top edge () of the folding side or front wall (). Opening the top lid () and then folding down the front wall () permits efficient loading and unloading of the container ().

Folding side-wall container and automated system of use

The system () includes at least one tread () secured to a tread drive means () for moving the tread () in a direction of a tread work-axis of motion () adjacent an object () to be moved. A head () is secured to the tread (), and the head () includes a device () for grabbing the object (). The head () selectively moves in at least a direction opposed to the tread work-axis of motion () and at a rate of speed at least the same as the rate of speed the drive means () moves the tread () in the tread work-axis of motion () direction to thereby achieve a net-zero motion relative to the object () to facilitate picking and placing the object (). A plurality of treads () with such heads () may be secured in an endless loop ().

Robotic tread system having a net-zero motion head for moving objects

A method and apparatus for handling thin films, for example, for handling and assembling membranes in fuel cell electrodes. The apparatus includes a translatable vacuum table for mounting the thin film, a perforated drum having a source of vacuum for removing the thin film from the vacuum table, and a transfer assembly having a perforated surface and a source of vacuum for transferring the thin film from the perforated drum to a target location. When the thin films are provided in containers, the apparatus may also include means for opening the containers to access the thin film within. Removal of the thin film from the transfer assembly may be aided by a thin film release device, for example, a plurality of moveable wires. The apparatus may be automated, for example, the apparatus may included automated controllers and robotic arms to facilitate the handling of thin film materials.

Method and apparatus for transferring thin films from a source position to a target position

A desiccant container () includes a cylindrical body () having a first end () and an opposed second end (). The cylindrical body () defines a desiccant chamber () within the cylindrical body () for holding the desiccant material within the chamber () between the first and second ends (). The cylindrical body () is made of a flexible, gas permeable, liquid impermeable material. A first disk () is secured adjacent the first end (), and a second disk () secured adjacent the second end () to facilitate closing of the ends () and to support maintenance of a cylindrical shape of the container () during usage of the desiccant container () in high-speed automated packaging machinery.

Desiccant container and method of manufacture

In a process for the assembly of wax trees, a wax runner is placed in a flat position, and a wax pattern is located adjacent to the wax runner. Both the wax pattern and the wax runner are heated and then placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax patterns and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed, a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree, and additional wax patterns are affixed in the same manner.

Process and apparatus for assembly of wax trees

A mechanism for moving a door relative to an access opening in a door frame includes three links pivotally connected between the door and the door frame permitting outward and lateral movement of the door. A structural member or pillar releasably secured to the door frame can move with the door and the mechanism can include a supporting member extending beneath and supporting the door during movement.

Mechanism for moving a door

A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax pattern and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree and additional wax runners are affixed in the same manner.

A multi-head robotic system capable of delivering numerous robotic devices to a task site is disclosed. A number of robotic devices perform tasks simultaneously, thus tasks can be completed quickly. Each individual robot does not need to move at an extremely fast speed. The sequence in which the robotic devices arrive at or leave a task site is unlimited. The robotic delivery system is capable of &ldquo;leapfrogging&rdquo; robotic devices, or placing them randomly, at locations where they are most needed.

Multi-head robot system and method of use

A Bulk Mail Container (BMC) unloader uses a simple crossed four bar-linkage to move a predetermined point on a BMC unloader in a substantially straight line while the overall BMC unloader rotates about that predetermined point so as to upend the BMC container. This takes advantage of the crossed four-bar's substantially straight-line motion over a limited range of its motion, as well as the rotational motion of the particular unloader link disclosed herein. This is advantageous for unloading. In use, a BMC container is simply rolled into the BMC unloader, and the entire combination of the BMC container and BMC unloader is then actuated to produce substantially straight line motion along a suitably selected &ldquo;center&rdquo; point of the BMC unloader while the overall combination rotates about the center point so as to upend the BMC for unloading.

Bulk mail container unloading system, apparatus and method

The present invention comprises a material handling device and method for transferring material from one location to another. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for placing material onto a pallet and/or removing material from a pallet. The device has a pedestal with a working arm pivotally connected to the pedestal. The working arm is driven by a horizontal motion actuator. Connected to the working arm and horizontal motion actuator is a cam follower that is received in a cam track on a cam track plate. The cam track plate can be easily removed and replaced with another plate with the cam tracks in a different arrangement. The horizontal motion actuator moves the cam follower along the cam track, resulting in movement of the working arm along a pre-selected path. At the end of the working arm is a material holder used for grasping and releasing the material to be transferred. The material holder has the ability to move vertically relative to the pedestal, thus allowing material to stacked, or removed from different elevations.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, NY, United States of America

Stephen Derby