A method of swing on a swing is disclosed, in which a user positioned on a standard swing suspended by two chains from a substantially horizontal tree branch induces side to side motion by pulling alternately on one chain and then the other.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7422411 | Gripping mechanisms, apparatus and methods The present invention provides grasping mechanisms, gripper apparatus/systems, and related methods. Grasping mechanisms that include stops, support surfaces, and height adjusting surfaces to determine three translational axis positions of a grasped object are provid... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7370834 | Apparatus and methods for in-space satellite operations Apparatus and methods for performing satellite proximity operations such as inspection, recovery and life extension of a target satellite through operation of a “Satellite Inspection Recovery and Extension” (“SIRE”) spacecraft which can be operated in the fo... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7363109 | Backlash compensation control method, backlash compensation controller and backlash compensation control program To allow a robot performing a cyclic movement upon receipt of a driving force transmitted through a driving force transmission system from a driving source along with a backlash to perform the movement compensated for the backlash, during a first period within a cyc... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7356980 | Automated method for packaging food An automated food processing system and method is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, which may be an individual portion-sized container. In one embodiment, the system includes separate automated modules for dispens... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7337594 | Food dispensing device and method An automated food processing system and method is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, which may be an individual portion-sized container. In one embodiment, the system includes separate automated modules for dispens... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7331094 | Method and device for positioning components to be joined together A device for positioning components to be joined together, such as car body components, is characterized by at least one movable central module and a plurality of arms, movable in space and connected thereto and which in each case have at least one holding element f... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7319466 | Method and apparatus for generating and interfacing with a haptic virtual reality environment A method for generating a haptic interactive representation including the steps of defining a haptic interaction space and building a hierarchical construct, for use within the haptic interaction space, using a plurality of underlying constructs. In one embodiment t... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7303776 | Automated food processing system and method An automated food processing system and method that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, such as an individual portion-sized container. The system includes separate automated modules for dispensing, frying and packaging the food. ... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7290977 | Powered coupling of attachment hydraulics An actuator operated apparatus for mounting and hydraulically coupling a working attachment to a mounting plate of a work vehicle. The apparatus receives a portion of pressurized fluid from the work vehicle to actuate a pair of wedges that slidably move to lock or u... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7289230 | Wireless substrate-like sensor A wireless substrate-like sensor is provided to facilitate alignment and calibration of semiconductor processing systems. The wireless substrate-like sensor includes an optical image acquisition system that acquires one or more images of targets placed within the se... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7283255 | Wireless substrate-like sensor A wireless substrate-like sensor is provided to facilitate alignment and calibration of semiconductor processing systems. The wireless substrate-like sensor includes an optical image acquisition system that acquires one or more images of targets placed within the se... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7254464 | System and methods for adaptive control of robotic devices Methods for operating robotic devices (i.e., “robots”) that employ adaptive behavior relative to neighboring robots and external (e.g., environmental) conditions. Each robot is capable of receiving, processing, and acting on one or more multi-device primitive co... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7228192 | Method for manufacturing an item According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for manufacturing an item. The method comprises the steps of creating a build schedule; creating a first portion of the item for manufacture; causing the first portion of the item to pass in ... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7221999 | Remote control device of bipedal mobile robot When an operator attempts to move a robot from a current position to a desired position, she/he operates a manipulator lever (26) corresponding to a desired direction of a manipulator (23) of a remote control device (22), for example, a number o... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210364 | Autonomous robotic crawler for in-pipe inspection The specification discloses a robot for inspection adapted to travel virtually unlimited distances through small-diameter enclosed spaces such as conduits or ducts, preferably using a fluid-driven screw-drive propulsion system. The robot preferably includes a drive ... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7207127 | Hook-on grab bucket, in particular motor-driven underwater grab bucket A grab bucket, in particular motor-driven underwater grab bucket, has first and second half-scoops. The scoops can be moved relative to on another from an open position into a closed position by a hydraulic cylinder. The opening angle of the half-scoops is monitored... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7207525 | Apparatus for grasping objects in space A remotely controlled apparatus for grasping an object such as a satellite in space includes a free-flying grasper unit connected by a selectively extendable cable to an orbital platform. The orbital platform and the grasper unit are preferably each independently pr... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7188879 | Slide gripper assembly A slide gripper assembly is provided having a slide assembly coupled to a gripper assembly. The slide assembly extends and retracts the gripper assembly. A bracket assembly is coupled to the slide and gripper assemblies to move the gripper assembly relative to the s... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7185410 | Robotic apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem on a wheel rim An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of an vehicle wheel includes engaging a valve stem with a robotic manipulator, moving the valve stem relative to the rim along a programmable path of travel, coaxially aligning the valve stem with the aper... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7175579 | Machine tool with gripper and/or tool magazine system A tool magazine system and a gripper for a machining spindle. The gripper is fed to the tool laterally with respect to the rotational or longitudinal axes of the tool, particularly substantially at right angles to the axis, and should grasp the tool. ... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7127326 | Certain principles of biomorphic robots including foot placement selection using non-geometric visual properties Robots and other mobile apparatus, especially robotic bipeds, that exhibit agile capabilities can become easily destabilized by obstacles or particular surfaces. An algorithm for controlling the movement of a robot based on visual cues and learning processes will he... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7118147 | Handling robot system having robot hand In a robot hand according to the present invention, a first-type grasping claw driven by a servo motor on a hand base and a second-type grasping claw having no actuator are used with the grasping claws mounted on each holding unit. The second-type grasping claw is m... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7114243 | Gripper with parts ejector system A robotic tool picks and places a clinging part in an assembly. Two gripper jaws each have gripper fingers spaced apart from each other by a central spacing. The gripper jaws are movable between a grip position and a release position. The robotic tool also has an ej... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7103499 | 3-D selection and manipulation with a multiple dimension haptic interface Systems and methods provide a user the ability to select three-dimensional virtual objects in a three-dimensional modeling environment using two-dimensional representations of the objects. In broad overview, the invention involves a multidimensional degree of freedo... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7095418 | Apparatus and methods for texture mapping The invention provides texture mapping techniques that facilitate interactive painting of a three-dimensional virtual surface by a user in object space, without requiring global parameterization. The texture mapping techniques feature rendering texture for a given v... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7086293 | Method for monitoring a machine and such a machine, particularly a robot In order to improve the monitoring of a machine with movable parts, such as in particular an industrial robot, and for increasing safety, the invention provides a method for monitoring movable parts of a machine, such as an industrial robot, in which at least two di... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7076980 | Robot and method for bending orthodontic archwires and other medical devices A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or ta... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7065856 | Machine tool method A machine tool apparatus is provided employing a plurality of tool heads which may be sequentially or simultaneously automatically controlled to perform preprogrammed operations on either the same or different workpieces. In one form, a plurality of tool heads are s... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7064845 | Method for measuring the geometry of an object by means of a co-ordination measuring device A process for measuring of an object geometry is disclosed using a coordinate measuring device wherein the object geometry is recorded by an optical sensor and represented as an image content, wherein within the image content, geometric structures suitable for the m... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7048183 | RFID rag and method of user verification An identification tag (100) facilitates use of a secure computer system (300). The tag (100) is adapted to be worn on a user's wrist and includes an identification and registration circuit (102) that includes an identification component (... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7044706 | Apparatus for manipulating a vehicle body panel Manipulating a vehicle body panel includes utilizing a base plate, left and right screw rods, a motor, and clamping units. The base plate is connected to the arm of the robot. The left and right screw rods are rotatably mounted below the base plate by bearing blocks... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7028556 | Load acquisition for machine clamp registries A method and apparatus for monitoring clamp loads used to clamp production pallets in position in a transfer machining line is disclosed. The steps include substituting a test pallet for a production pallet during a production cycle. The test pallet includes at leas... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7002102 | Toolholder for coupling a tool to a handling device The invention relates to a toolholder (10) for coupling a welding torch to an industrial robot (14), comprising a first fixing device (16) for fixing the welding torch (12) to the toolholder (10) and comprising a second fixing devi... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6974297 | Industrial robot An industrial robot for movement of an object in space comprising a platform arranged for carrying the object, a first arm arranged for influencing the platform in a first movement and comprising a first actuator and two links, each of which comprises an outer joint... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6969844 | Multiple-axis linearly-propelled rotating sensor apparatus A ground penetrating antenna apparatus and method are provided for locating underground objects via radar, sonar, or similar methods. The apparatus includes one or more antennas that are rotatably affixed to support extensions that also rotate, but about an axis tha... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6963792 | Surgical method A teleoperator system with telepresence is shown which includes right and left hand controllers (72R and 72L) for control of right and left manipulators (24R and 24L) through use of a servomechanism that includes computer. The teleoperato... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6960157 | Automated system and method for handling food containers An automated food processing system and method is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, which may be an individual portion-sized container. In one embodiment, the system includes separate automated modules for dispens... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6958752 | Systems and methods for three-dimensional modeling Systems and methods for modifying a virtual object stored within a computer. The systems and methods allow virtual object modifications that are otherwise computationally inconvenient. The virtual object is represented as a volumetric representation. A portion of th... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6957581 | Acoustic detection of mechanically induced circuit damage An apparatus and method thereof includes at least one acoustic transducer for receiving acoustic emissions produced during a semiconductor fabrication process. The acoustic transducer is mounted to various mechanical components of a semiconductor processing equipmen... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6956347 | Robot with sensor A visual sensor main body is attached to a first attachment provided in a vicinity of a hand provided to a tip end of a robot arm to take an image of a workpiece to obtain a position and an attitude of the workpiece. Based on the detected position and attitude, the ... | 10/18/2005 |