- Welding
- Thermal Cutting
- Material Removal
- Handling and Tending
- Assembly
- Dispensing
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Service and Training
HOUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT 563-445-5777
Home How We Do It Company Info Patents
| #7,673,384 March 9, 2010 Nut Runner and Hexabot Robot USA Inventors – Terry O’Connell, Jack Fisher, Arthur Smith Jr.Japan Inventor – Satoshi Sato |
This six degree of freedom servo driven robot has a seventh axis servo motor for rotating servo driven nut runners affixed to arms which swing around a radius. The robot offers flexibility within high production manufacturing and automotive assembly processes by realizing translational movement of servo driven nut runners about seven degrees of translation. These robots are ideal for fastening the component parts of a work product within a work envelope. |
| #6,317,994 B1 Nov. 20, 2001 Robot Alignment Apparatus and Method for using same USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen and D. Bergmann |
The robot aligning apparatus includes a pointer which may be connected to either the robot or the tool carried by the robot. The apparatus also includes a stationary post having a sleeve mounted thereon. The robot, or the tool with the pointer mounted on it, are moved to a test station adjacent to the sleeve and post, and the sleeve is moved upwardly over the pointer to indicate proper alignment. |
| #6,282,847 B1 May 27, 1999 Workcell Door and Wall Assembly USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen and F. Remley |
This is an improved workcell design where the door is hinged at a midpoint between the opposite sides and maintained in a parallel relationship to the workcell access opening. The design minimizes the clearance space required to open and close the door. The workcell is formed of a plurality of posts and wall panels which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. This wall assembly design makes the workcell portable. The wall panels are pinned to the posts and include hollow ribs to receive cabling, wiring, and tubing for work functions within the workcell. |
| #5,399,837 Mar. 21, 1995 Wire Brake for Robotic Welding Torch USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen and D. Boyd |
This wire brake for a robotic welding torch includes an adapter which is attached to the upper end of the welding torch and which includes an adapter bore through which the wire electrode is inserted. The cylinder body is threadable, attached to the adapter and includes a reciprocating piston. Having a piston stem which move into a brake position engages the wire electrode so the wire electrode is secured against axial movement within the adapter bore. |
| #5,083,070 Jan. 21, 1992 Index Table with Center Mounted Robot Arm USA Inventors – M. Poupard and E. Cooper |
This combination work supporting table and computer controlled robot is designed with a rotatable index table that includes a concentric column comprised of a computer controlled robot mounted upon the column’s outer end in spaced relationship to the table work supporting surface. A computerized robot controller controls both the robot and the rotation of the index table permitting an extensive range of robot movement over a large work area in a concise space. |
| #6,891,128 B1 May 10, 2005 Rotational Flash Guard and Method of Use USA Inventors – M. Sidlinger, J. Mangelsen, A. Deitering, M. Skahill, and J. Kelsick |
This invention relates to a rotational flash guard and method of using that rotational flash guard. In general, the flash guard is attached to a support frame by an arm. A linkage mechanism pivotally interconnects the arm and the support frame, and an extensible power member connects the support frame to the linkage mechanism. Due to the unique configuration of this rotational flash guard, it is adapted for movement about a work piece positioner. It allows for use of a robotic tool while providing protection to the operator and other workers. |
| #6,375,178 B1 Apr. 23, 2002 Dual Cylinder Work Piece Positioner USA Inventors – C. Schilb and J. Mangelsen |
This dual cylinder pivotal work piece holding device includes a fixture pivotally mounted on a frame. A crank arm drives the fixture about a pivoting axis. First and second cylinders have rods pivotally connected to the crank arm at a drive point offset from the fixture pivot axis. The rods form an oblique angle with each other and a controller is provided for extending and retracting the rods in a coordinated cycle so that at least one of the rods is moving at any instant during rotation of the fixture. |
| #6,142,854 Nov. 7, 2000 Deburring System and Method For Using Same USA Inventors – F. Remley and J. Mangelsen |
This deburring head is mounted on a frame for movement toward and away from a workpiece also mounted on the frame. The deburring head includes a plurality of deburring brushes which are rotated and which are adapted to engage the workpiece and remove burrs from the workpiece. |
| #6,276,284 Aug. 21, 2001 Side-By-Side Robot Workcell USA Inventors – F. Remley and J. Mangelsen |
This side-by-side robot workcell includes two tables each of which is moveable from a work position to a load position. Linkages are connected to the tables and cause the tables to have a slow speed at the time the tables approach either the load or the work position, and a faster speed in the middle of the movement between the work and load positions. |
| #4,709,259 Dec. 13, 1998 Tool For Robotic Application Of Liquid To A Work Surface USA Inventors – J. Morris and D. Boyd |
This tool enables the controlled application of a variety of liquids to various work surfaces. The tool holder itself slides freely vertically but is held against lateral movement. Attached to the tool holder is a tool having a dauber pad at its lower end. A check valve mounted within the dauber pad prevents the dauber pad from receiving fluid until the dauber pad engages the work surface. |
| #6,450,490 B1 Sep. 17, 2002 Quick Change Tooling For Robotic Work Station USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen, J. Brewer and M. Skahill |
This is a quick change fixture mounted arrangement. It includes a pair of mating ball-and-socket connectors at the headstock end of the fixture and a ball joint coupler at the tailstock end of the fixture. This arrangement allows for some misalignment of the fixture relative to the axis of rotation and permits the fixture to be rotated about a second, external axis of rotation. |
| #6,953,142 B2 Oct. 11, 2005 Method of Apparatus For Locating And Holding A Flange USA Inventors – J. Pingilley, R. Christensen, N. Cooley, M. McCreary, D. Stabenow and J. Hogue |
This apparatus for locating and grasping a flange includes a plurality of clamp arms that move from an unclamped position to a clamped position, clamping the flange to the upper surface of a support platform. Pins move upwardly into flange holes within the flange and position the flange during the clamping action. The locating and the clamping of the flange to the upper surface of the support platform is accomplished by a single pusher rod that is connected to both the pins and the clamps. The method comprises using a single pusher rod connected to both the pins and the clamps for locating and clamping the flange to the upper surface of a platform. |
| #5,873,569 Feb. 23, 1999 Workpiece Positioner USA Inventors – D. Boyd, M. McCreary and C. Schilb |
This workpiece positioner optimizes workpiece rotation for manufacturing processes and specifically for use with an industrial robot. In general, the workpiece positioner assembly is supported on a base. The workpiece positioner assembly is rectangular in shape and includes drive arms and idler arms between which workpieces are supported. Due to the unique shape of the workpiece positioner assembly, the workpiece-to workpiece rotational clearance can be reduced to zero due in part to the position of cross tubing from the drive end of the workpiece positioner assembly to the idler end of the workpiece positioner assembly. The cross tubing does not interfere with the workpiece rotation area thereby allowing workpiece size and orientation to be increased without affecting positioner swing or operation height. |
| #6,023,045 Feb. 8, 2000 Torch Reamer and Method for Using Same USA Inventors – C. Magelsen and F. Remley |
This torch reamer includes a reamer assembly having a reamer bit and a motor which are movable toward and away from the work station. The clamping arm is pivotally mounted to the frame and is movable from an inoperative position to an operative position adjacent the work station. Movement of the clamp arm toward the work station causes a clamp member to clamp a torch nozzle and hold it in the work station while the reamer assembly rotates the reamer bit within the inside of the torch nozzle. Lifting of the torch nozzle releases the clamp, deactivates the motor, and retracts the motor and reamer bit to an inoperative position. |
| #5,489,759 Feb. 6, 1996 Method and Device for Aligning A Tool Held By A Robot USA Inventors – R. Litt, C. Schilb and B. Gorge |
This device for indicating the alignment of a tool held by the arm of a robot includes a frame mounted at a known coordinate, an electrical switch mounted on the frame and connected to the robot, a lever having opposite first and second end portions and a central portion between them that pivots, connecting to the frame so that the first end portion normally makes contact with the switch in the absence of outside forces on the lever. The second end portion of the lever has a target bore in it for receiving the tool with a given tolerance for misalignment of the tool. If the tolerance is exceeded, the tool engages the second end portion of the lever and forcibly picots the first end portion out of contact with the switch to indicate misalignment of the tool. The method of checking alignment with this device includes positioning the tool in an expected position of alignment with the target bore, moving the tool into the bore, and sending an electrical signal to the robot indicating whether the tool strikes the lever and pivots it out of contact with the switch. |
| #5,704,601 Jan. 6, 1998 Positioning Table (Versa 3M) USA Inventors – J.C. Mangelsen and J. Mangelsen |
This reciprocating table assembly includes a frame, a table, and a bearing assembly for rotatably mounting the table to the frame. A cylinder assembly rotates the table at a pivot point by extending and retracting a piston rod from the cylinder. Three sensors sense which position the table is at within its rotational path and signals the piston rod to either extend or contract at the appropriate time. |
| #6,282,847 Sept. 4, 2001 Workcell Door and Wall Panel USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen and F. Remley |
This is another improved workcell design update to the May 27, 1999 patent. The door is hinged at a midpoint between the opposite sides and maintained in a parallel relationship to the workcell access opening. The design minimizes the clearance space required to open and close the door. The workcell is formed of a plurality of posts and wall panels which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. This wall assembly design makes the workcell portable. The wall panels are pinned to the posts and include hollow ribs to receive cabling, wiring, and tubing for work functions within the workcell. |
| #6,776,082 Aug. 17, 2004 Fluid Powered Rotary Indexer USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen and N. Cooley |
This fluid powered rotary indexer includes a housing with a piston rotatably mounted within. The housing includes ports providing fluid communication to opposing compartments within the housing. This facilitates rotating the piston clockwise or counterclockwise when the fluid is introduced, depending on which compartment the fluid enters. The piston is rotatably supported by a bearing which is mounted to the work surface. An adapter is connected to the piston for rotation and supports a tool or work piece. The sealing rings provided between the piston and the housing to provide a fluid seal for the chamber. A central opening is provided in the assembly through which cables, wires, and tubing can be extended. |
| #7,171,737 Feb 6, 2007 Safety Barrier Inventors – M. Sidlinger, J. Mangelsen, J. Christen, H. Neumann, M. Skahill, G. Judge |
This is a rollup safety barrier for robotic stations. The barrier includes a track having a tapered portion at its lower end. The switch mounted at the extreme lower end of the track prevents actuation of the robotic equipment unless the barrier is moved to its extreme lowermost position. Extensible cylinders are connected to a chain trained around a sprocket that rolls the roller. |
| #6,708,956 B1 Mar. 23, 2004 Break Away Barrier and Method For Using Same USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen, K. Roys, M. Skahill and T. Scherer |
This break away barrier utilizes first and second upstanding posts spaced apart and positioned at a predetermined safe distance away from the outer movement limit of the robot. A pair of barrier assemblies are hinged to the first and second spaced apart upstanding posts and are hinged for movement from a closed position inside the safe distance to an open position outside the safe distance. A break away latch permits the opening and separation of the first and second barriers in response to a predetermined force. |
| #6,394,189 B1 May 28, 2002 Zero Gravity Robotic System and Method For Using Same USA Inventors – W. Moon and B. Gorge |
This zero gravity robotic tool includes a robotic arm having a distal end. A motor is mounted on the distal end of the robotic arm and is rotated about a motor axis which passes through the center of gravity of the motor and the tool. A prime mover is connected to the robotic arm and to a pivot mechanism which causes the rotation of the motor and the tool about the motor axis. |
| #5,521,355 May 28, 1996 Welding Torch Assembly and Method USA Inventor – J. Lorentzen |
This welding system includes a feeder with a rotatable reel mounted within for supplying welding wire and a torch that has a cable extending from it which connects to the wire feeder. A pair of opposing conductive drive rolls connect to a source of charging power and are mounted for powered rotation on the torch. The rolls engage, charge and deliver the wire to the workpiece. Opposing rollers driven by a motor through a clutch also pull the wire from the reel in the feeder and push it through the cable. The torch is equipped with a nozzle on the torch which is fitted with a nonconductive delivery tube to guide the welding wire into the torch without sparking. This unique method of delivering a charged wire electrode in a MIG welding torch assembly is disclosed in this patent. Also disclosed is a special configuration for the groove for engaging the wire electrode between the rolls or rollers. |
| #4,778,976 Oct. 18, 1988 Welding Nozzle Cleaner Apparatus USA Inventors – R. Litt and J. Lorentzen |
This apparatus prevents the formation of welding material about the outlet end of the welding nozzle on welding units activated upon contact by engagement. There is a pneumatic system connected with the valve unit. A reciprocal hammer device operated by the pneumatic system upon activation of the valve repeatedly strikes the welding nozzle, thereby dislodging any material build-up upon it. The apparatus further includes a spraying unit that sprays an anti-welding spatter compound toward and into the outlet of the welding nozzle. |
| #6,360,904 B1 Mar. 26, 2002 Adjustable Shelving For Robotic Work Station USA Inventors – C. Schilb and B. Niles |
This adjustable shelving unit for robotic work stations includes a plurality of elongated upright channel members each having a C-shaped transverse cross-section. The channel members are arranged in parallel pairs, and at least one shelf is releasable and movable, enabling it to be adjusted in both height and angle with respect to the channel members. The adjustable shelving unit is useful in combination with a workpiece positioning device and can even be attached to the positioning device so bins for parts and parts can be stored near their point-of-use. |
| #6,314,686 B1 Nov. 13, 2001 Light Seal For Use With Robotic Equipment USA Inventors – T. Scherer and D. Juhl |
This light seal for use with robotic equipment includes a window having a rotatable divider panel mounted within it. Flexible sealing flaps at the opposite sides of the window opening engage the divider panel when the divider panel is in a sealed position to provide a light seal between the edges of the divider panel and the edges of the window opening. |
| #6,921,011 B11 Jul. 26, 2005 Workpiece Holder Having Top Mounted Robot and Method of Use USA Inventors – J. Mangelsen, J. Kelsick and J. Christen |
This workpiece holder uses a top mounted robot which optimizes floor space for a workpiece positioner and a robot. Due to the unique shape of the workpiece holder with top mounted robot, the floor space of the combined robot and workpiece positioner is significantly reduced, and the overall cost of the system is reduced. |
| #6,398,101 B1 Jun. 4, 2002 Bi-Directional Complaint Precision Linear Slide USA Inventor – P. Pollock |
This bi-directional complaint precision linear slide apparatus has a base that supports two side bearing blocks, side rails and an internal air cylinder. The bearing blocks allow for a set of side rails. The slide apparatus allows work to be moved in one direction first by introducing or expelling of air to and from an air cylinder. The top rail allows for a top mounting bracket to be moved back and forth in a second direction, and a set of spring loaded plungers facilitates the precise positioning of the top mounting bracket within the top rails prior to bracket engagement to tube. The top mounting bracket is connected to a first component that is to be welded to a second component. Thus, by controlling the precise position of the top mounting bracket, the gap between the two components can be controlled. This allows adjustment for the type and quality of weld needed, reducing the amount of weld time, and reducing the amount of heat introduced into the two components during the welding process. |
