Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8172292 | Arm tool for packing trays in boxes An end of arm tool for packing article bearing trays in boxes includes a pair of spaced apart clamping end members and a pair of cylinder assemblies each including a powered cylinder for causing the end members to move from an extended position to a semi-retracted p... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8132835 | Workpiece gripping device A workpiece gripping device includes a primary catching mechanism having a suction pad adapted to hold a workpiece by suction power and a rod-like part having the suction pad mounted on one end thereof, gripping pawls sandwiching and gripping the workpiece, a drive ... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8011706 | Suction gripper There is provided a suction gripper. An exemplary suction gripper comprises at least one needle adapted to grip an object. Also provided is a method of gripping an object. An exemplary method of gripping an object comprises gripping the object with a suction gripper... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7963578 | Integrated vacuum gripper with internal releasable magnet and method of using same An integrated vacuum and magnetic gripper includes a rigid housing defining an internal chamber, and a flexible vacuum cup operatively connected thereto. A vacuum cavity is defined by the vacuum cup and a vacuum source is configured to reduce pressure in the vacuum ... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7950708 | Programmable zoned end effector An end effector for a robot having an array of suction cups includes an air control valve connected to each suction cup. Each valve can be individually operated so that specific zones of suction cups may be activated while others are dormant. The dormant suction cup... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7887108 | Adjustable tine clamp systems and methods Systems and methods which provide an adjustable tine clamp configuration are shown. Embodiments provide an adjustable support member configuration which is adapted to maintain a desired geometry of tines throughout an adjustable range. The adjustable support members... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7828351 | Manipulator robot tools with ramps bearing equipment items for gripping objects A manipulator robot for handling objects and in particular bottles. The manipulator robot includes a body whereon are fitted equipment items for gripping the bottles and the lower part of the body includes slide-shaped devices connecting the body and elongated suppo... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7618074 | Handling apparatus for passing electronic components, in particular ICs, to a testing apparatus In the case of a handling apparatus for passing electronic components, in particular ICs, which are provided in a component carrier, to a testing apparatus, a component holder having a positioning device is provided and has movable clamping elements which can be mov... | 11/17/2009 |
| 7559590 | Pressure transmission assembly for mounting to a robotic device having a rotatable end effector Disclosed is a pressure transmission assembly for mounting to a robotic device having a rotatable end effector. The pressure transmission assembly includes a housing and a flexible pressure transmission member. The housing includes an input port and an output port. ... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7547052 | Robotic head for palletizing full boxes, tray packs and spot packs A robotic head for use in palletizing products includes a body having opposed ends. A portion of a first clamping assembly is pivotably connected at one end of the body and extends to a first lip, the portion having an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7481472 | Layer picking end effector system, apparatus and method A system, method and apparatus for handling and moving a layer of articles, such as cased products. The system and apparatus comprise a hood enclosure having four side panels, and four interconnected corner member. The side walls and corner members interoperate to f... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7370895 | Work transfer device and method of transferring work Provided are a work transfer device and a method of transferring work which are capable of safely transferring work without letting the work to fall even when poor adhesion of a frame occurs due to troubles. By providing an adsorption part which adsorbs a frame, and... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367601 | Substrate transfer apparatus and substrate transfer method The present invention provides a substrate carrying apparatus capable of surely carrying a substrate with electronic parts mounted thereon, at low costs without causing the electronic parts to fall off the substrate, and without damaging the substrate. A substrate c... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7337534 | SMD chip handling apparatus The apparatus is for securely fetching and positioning an SMD chip on a printed circuit board and soldering the same to the board. Two spring plates form the clasping fingers which are wedged apart to a width larger than the width of the SMD chip by an expander form... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7309089 | Vacuum cup A vacuum cup for a material handling system includes a body portion and a perimeter seal that functions to substantially seal against an object. The vacuum cup may transport the object when a partial vacuum is applied to the vacuum cup to retain the cup to the objec... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7308972 | Suspended load carrier apparatus for a forklift vehicle A fabricated metal carrier apparatus includes a carrier member having downwardly facing parallel spaced channels for receiving the forwardly projecting parallel forks of a forklift truck or vehicle. The carrier member has a rotatable vertical shaft located between t... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7264288 | Barrel handling device A grab for lifting barrels stored in a well includes a grasp system provided for example with suction caps for slightly raising a barrel and movable arms provided with extendable fingers used for embracing the barrel and forming a solid support therefore. The elemen... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7234744 | Rotatable, squeeze-spread end effector for industrial robot An end effector (10) for an industrial robot has the ability to pick up plural objects, selectively rotate same and adjusts the spacing between the plural objects as the products are being carried by the robot to a desired deposit location. This functionality... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7195206 | Apparatus and method for servicing and inspecting small free-flying platforms in orbit in space A small, substantially spherical, free-flying utility platform for use in space can be docked, inspected and serviced in an apparatus including a container with a chamber therein mounted on the outside of a space vehicle or space station. A motorized closing mechani... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7175214 | Wafer gripping fingers to minimize distortion An apparatus for measuring semiconductor wafer shape that minimizes wafer distortion. The apparatus includes a plurality of wafer gripping fingers for holding a wafer in a predetermined position during wafer measurement. Each finger includes a groove that contacts t... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7153085 | Multi-modal package handling tool and system A multi-modal package handling tool and system uses a robot carrying an end of arm tool incorporating several package handling devices such as vacuum carrying units, extensible package grippers, and a slideably deployable package platform. Each these package handlin... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7143668 | Customizable light bulb changer A light bulb changing tool comprising a motorized clasping mechanism configured to engage a light bulb, the motorized clasping mechanism configured along an axis, the motorized clasping mechanism configured to actuate in a first direction and a second direction; and... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7134829 | Cargo trailer A trailer for carrying cargo includes a frame, at least two axles mounted to the frame, and a deck. The axles have wheels at opposite ends of the axles for movably supporting the frame above the ground. The deck is pivotally mounted to the frame and is pivotable abo... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7128874 | Method and system for picking and placing vessels A method and system for picking and placing vessels are provided. The system includes a gripper assembly mounted on a positioning mechanism. The gripper assembly includes a cylinder, a plurality of flexible gripping members extending from the cylinder in a spaced-ap... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7111741 | Multi-purpose rake The multi-purpose rake includes a rake head and a detachable pole for pulling the rake across a surface. The rake head has a frame with two arced end ribs, an upper and a lower crossbar extending between the end ribs. The upper crossbar has a sleeve or other attachm... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7086675 | Magnetic vacuum gripper including inflatable bellows A gripping device for gripping an object has a vacuum gripper; a magnet disposed within the vacuum gripper and moveable between a gripping position and a retracted position; gripping vacuum for moving the magnet to the gripping position; and release for moving the m... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7029045 | Doe Antlers A Doe Antlers is a device designed for retrieving wild game animals such as deer or other animals of similar size. Doe Antlers consists of a yoke, yoke handles, an adjustment fastener, a hook, and hand grips. The yoke can be manufactured of tubular or solid material... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7025015 | Tracking telescoping outrigger An outrigger has a plurality of telescoping tubes capable of being retracted and extended with respect to one another, and a sleeve between the tubes; and the tubes and sleeve having longitudinal tracking comprising interlocking protrusions and grooves to permit the... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7017961 | Compressive end effector Apparatus and method for holding an uncompressed bundle of product from the top with a vacuum assisted end effector and then simultaneously compressing the bundle from all sides at the same time with thin compression plates located about the periphery of a vacuum as... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7003870 | Apparatus for inserting a handle part into a mold for blow molding a bottle In an apparatus for inserting a handle part into a mold for blow molding a bottle, a pick-up unit includes a vertical backing plate, a clamping unit projecting substantially horizontally from the backing plate for clamping therebetween a portion of the handle part, ... | 02/28/2006 |
| 7004522 | Suction unit A suction unit includes a rotary driving source which is arranged outside of a casing, a substantially oblong circular crank member which is rotatable and which is connected to a rotary shaft of the rotary driving source, a connecting rod which has one end rotatably... | 02/28/2006 |
| 7000339 | Demolition equipment having universal tines and a method for designing a universal tine A claw tine for demolition equipment includes an elongated claw tine pivotally movable about a pivot point between an open and closed position by a hydraulic cyliner. The total angular rotation of the claw tine is at least 75 degrees, generally between 75 and 100 de... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6986537 | Multi faceted retriever A multi faceted retrieval tool for use by an individual positioned above the ground in retrieving items beneath the location of the individual, comprising a series of hooks extensible beyond the periphery of the tool for engaging, securing and retrieving items which... | 01/17/2006 |
| 6976407 | Broken bulb remover A broken bulb remover with no moving parts comprising a rod serving as a handle with a central chamber open from the end of the rod to enclose the stem of a broken bulb. A lateral slot bifurcates part of the chamber for receiving the paddle-shaped part of the stem, ... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6941841 | Motorized light bulb changer A light bulb changing tool comprising a motorized clasping mechanism configured to engage a light bulb, the motorized clasping mechanism configured along an axis, the motorized clasping mechanism configured to actuate in a first direction and a second direction; and... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6941631 | Optical component plastic deformation control process A process for aligning an optical component by plastic deformation comprises finding a desired position of an optical axis of the optical component relative to a rest position of the optical axis of the optical component. Then, a deformation force is exerted, which ... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6916055 | Lens press tool Embodiments provide for an optical component mounting apparatus and method. One embodiment provides a body defining a lens applicator tip at one end, wherein the lens applicator tip defines a lens contact surface. A lens retaining member includes a lens carrying tip... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6893066 | Combination tool for transferring labels and appliques A tool for use in transferring labels and appliques from one surface to another surface and for removing materials from a surface. The tool includes an elongated tool body having a taper portion, a grip portion and a blunt portion axially spaced along a longitudinal... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6877215 | Compliance mechanism for manipulating a control object A compliance mechanism for manipulating a control object by an end effector supported by a robotic arm. The robotic arm is supported by a combination of linear slides for two-axis freedom of movement. A locking arm is attached to the robotic arm and the locking arm ... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6860531 | Gripping and vacuum end effector for transferring articles An end effector for a robot is used to unpack flattened stackable items from a container using a fixed sized vacuum plenum and simple adjustable gripping elements. The gripping elements comprise a pair of adjustable, smooth blades. In addition, the end effector incl... | 03/01/2005 |
