Machine Tools

Citations to U.S. patents by U.S. patents granted in 2023

Other WIPO fields: [ Computer technology  |  Digital communication  |  Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy  |  Measurement  |  Audio-visual technology  |  Medical technology  |  Optics  |  Transport  |  Semiconductors  |  Telecommunications  |  Other special machines  |  Pharmaceuticals  |  Organic fine chemistry  |  Mechanical elements  |  Chemical engineering  |  Engines, pumps, turbines  |  Civil engineering  |  Control  |  Basic materials chemistry  |  Handling  |  Furniture, games  |  Machine tools  |  Biotechnology  |  Other consumer goods  |  Macromolecular chemistry, polymers  |  IT methods for management  |  Textile and paper machines  |  Basic communication processes  |  Surface technology, coating  |  Materials, metallurgy  |  Environmental technology  |  Thermal processes and apparatus  |  Analysis of biological materials  |  Food chemistry  |  Micro-structural and nano-technology ]

  *1. 6 6161288    Four blade bi-directional razor structure with flexible guard system
  Inventors:  Edward A. Andrews

  *2. 5 6167919    Method and device for the twisting of at least two single-lines
  Inventors:  Klaus Füchsl; Fritz Dräxlmaier

  *2. 5 8032990    Handles for hand-held tools
  Inventors:  Yasutoshi Shinma; Keiji Nakashima; Hajime Takeuchi

  *2. 5 9314855    Electric boring tool
  Inventors:  Takahiro Ookubo; Kazutaka Iwata

  *2. 5 9403255    Polishing apparatus and polishing method
  Inventors:  Makoto Fukushima; Hozumi Yasuda; Keisuke Namiki; Osamu Nabeya; Shingo Togashi; Satoru Yamaki

  6. (5) 4 10295990    User interface for tool configuration and data capture
  Inventors:  John S. Dey, IV; Alex Huber; Matthew J. Mergener; Burtrom L. Stampfl; Stephen Matson; Timothy R. Obermann

  *6. 4 10173310    Gas spring-powered fastener driver
  Inventors:  Andrew R. Wyler; Nathan T. Armstrong; Jason D. Thurner; Troy C. Thorson; John S. Scott; Jeremy R. Ebner; Daniel R. Garces; Ryan Allen Dedrickson; Luke J. Skinner; Benjamin R. Suhr

  *6. 4 10406704    Razor apparatus and shaving system
  Inventors:  Tod Barrett; Porter Stansberry; Mark Prommel

  *6. 4 10702972    Polishing apparatus
  Inventors:  Makoto Fukushima; Hozumi Yasuda; Keisuke Namiki; Osamu Nabeya; Shingo Togashi; Satoru Yamaki

  *6. 4 10821586    Electric nail gun using air spring
  Inventors:  Qicheng Wu; Yurong Liu; Cai Ye; Lu Dai

  *6. 4 11059125    Friction stir processing tool with radial protrusion
  Inventors:  David Rosal; Scott M. Packer; Rodney Dale Fleck; Russell J. Steel

  *6. 4 11205820    Battery pack, electrical device using battery pack, and electrical device system
  Inventors:  Hiroyuki Hanawa; Tomomasa Nishikawa; Shota Kanno; Toshio Mizoguchi; Yasushi Nakano; Kazuhiko Funabashi; Takuya Teranishi; Naoto Wakatabe; Shinji Watanabe; Junpei Sato; Hikaru Tamura; Nobuhiro Takano; Osamu Kawanobe; Hayato Yamaguchi; Akira Matsushita; Masaru Hirano; Takuhiro Murakami; Masayuki Ogura; Yusuke Funabiki; Junichi Toukairin; Shota Takeuchi

  *6. 4 2807256    Machine spacers
  Inventors:  Raymond F Woolley

  *6. 4 3924789    Electric fastener driving tool
  Inventors:  Hazelton H Avery; Salvatore Morabito

  *6. 4 3964659    Safety firing control means for a fluid operated tool
  Inventors:  Frank J. Eiben; Eric H. Halbert; William T. Jobe; Carl Siegmann

  *6. 4 5205082    Wafer polisher head having floating retainer ring
  Inventors:  Norm Shendon; Kenneth C. Struven; Robert J. Kolenkow

  *6. 4 5252171    Heat sealing apparatus
  Inventors:  Ronald C. Anderson; David A. Myers

  *6. 4 5435883    Heat applied transfer press
  Inventors:  David A. Myers

  *6. 4 5595670    Method of high speed high power welding
  Inventors:  Jean C. Mombo-Caristan

  *6. 4 6110025    Containment ring for substrate carrier apparatus
  Inventors:  Roger O. Williams; James D. Buhler

  *6. 4 6183354    Carrier head with a flexible membrane for a chemical mechanical polishing system
  Inventors:  Steven M. Zuniga; Manoocher Birang; Hung Chen; Sen-Hou Ko

  *6. 4 6224472    Retaining ring for chemical mechanical polishing
  Inventors:  Lei Ping Lai; Joshua L. Tucker; Randall J. Lujan

  *6. 4 6315635    Method and apparatus for slurry temperature control in a polishing process
  Inventors:  Chih-Lung Lin

  *6. 4 6579151    Retaining ring with active edge-profile control by piezoelectric actuator/sensors
  Inventors:  Tung-Ching Tseng; Sheng Yung Liu

  *6. 4 6637642    Method of solid state welding and welded parts
  Inventors:  David Lingnau

  *6. 4 7146294    Weighing baled material
  Inventors:  Richard E. Waitkus, Jr.

  *6. 4 7275675    Friction stir weld tools
  Inventors:  Robert W. Carter; Lewis N. Payton

  *6. 4 7325312    Folding knife with pivoting blade and guard
  Inventors:  Michael D. Janich

  *6. 4 7494040    Friction stir welding improvements for metal matrix composites, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys using a superabrasive tool
  Inventors:  Jonathan A. Babb; Brian E. Taylor; Russell J. Steel; Chris Reed; Scott M. Packer

  *6. 4 7857192    Friction stir welding tool and friction stir welding method
  Inventors:  Yoshitaka Nagano

  *6. 4 7931143    Toolbox
  Inventors:  Jack Lin

  *6. 4 8407860    Apparatus for fastening a handle on a power tool
  Inventors:  Jens Brennenstuhl; Heiko Roehm; Stefan Schlegl

  *6. 4 8434661    Friction stir welding tool and process for welding dissimilar materials
  Inventors:  Yuri Hovanski; Glenn J. Grant; Saumyadeep Jana; Karl F. Mattlin

  *6. 4 9308638    Power tool and auxiliary handle member
  Inventors:  Tomoyuki Kondo; Takao Kuroyanagi

  *6. 4 9463566    Auxiliary handle and reciprocating power tool having the same
  Inventors:  Kiyonobu Yoshikane; Yoshitaka Machida

  *6. 4 9644769    System and method for welding tubular workpieces
  Inventors:  Paul Po Cheng

  *6. 4 9775272    Auxiliary handle attachment for a material-moving tool
  Inventors:  John S. Gilbert

  *6. 4 9943970    Rotational wedge locking mechanism for a folding knife
  Inventors:  Louis Sal Glesser

  *1. 28 5738574    Continuous processing system for chemical mechanical polishing
  Inventors:  Robert D. Tolles; Norm Shendon; Sasson Somekh; Ilya Perlov; Eugene Gantvarg; Harry Q. Lee

  2. (2) 22 5956851    Shaving system including handle and replaceable cartridges
  Inventors:  Domenic V. Apprille, Jr.; William C. Carson, III; Alejandro C. Lee; Stephen C. Metcalf; Charles B. Worrick

  2. (4) 22 5761814    Razor construction
  Inventors:  Katherine Anderson; Ralph Kenneth Maider, Jr.; Paul Nowak; Tzu-Jun Yen

  *2. 22 4314827    Non-fused aluminum oxide-based abrasive mineral
  Inventors:  Melvin A. Leitheiser; Harold G. Sowman

  *5. 21 4744802    Process for durable sol-gel produced alumina-based ceramics, abrasive grain and abrasive products
  Inventors:  Mark G. Schwabel

  *5. 21 8474144    Safety razor with rotational movement and locking button
  Inventors:  Terence Gordon Royle

  *7. 20 4623364    Abrasive material and method for preparing the same
  Inventors:  Thomas E. Cottringer; Ronald H. van de Merwe; Ralph Bauer

  *7. 20 4770671    Abrasive grits formed of ceramic containing oxides of aluminum and yttrium, method of making and using the same and products made therewith
  Inventors:  Larry D. Monroe; William P. Wood

  *9. 19 4881951    Abrasive grits formed of ceramic containing oxides of aluminum and rare earth metal, method of making and products made therewith
  Inventors:  Larry D. Monroe; William P. Wood

  *9. 19 5201916    Shaped abrasive particles and method of making same
  Inventors:  Todd A. Berg; Donley D. Rowenhorst; James G. Berg; William K. Leonard

  *9. 19 8142531    Shaped abrasive particles with a sloping sidewall
  Inventors:  Negus B. Adefris; Dwight D. Erickson; Scott R. Culler; John T. Boden; John D. Haas

Key Trends Shaping the Field of Machine Tools:

1. Automation and Robotics: The relentless pursuit of increased efficiency and reduced labor costs is evident in the surge of patents related to automation and robotics.

• US Patent No. 10894663 (Kapust et al.), "Automated storage and retrieval system," exemplifies this trend. This patent likely describes an innovative system for efficiently storing and retrieving raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods within a manufacturing facility, minimizing manual handling and optimizing production flow.


• US Patent No. 11199853 (Ebrahimi Afrouzi et al.), "Versatile mobile platform," likely pertains to the development of flexible and adaptable robotic platforms capable of performing various tasks within a manufacturing environment. These platforms could include autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) for material transport, collaborative robots (cobots) for assisting human workers, or mobile manipulators for complex assembly operations.

• Friction Stir Welding (FSW): Patents like US Patent No. 7494040 (Babb et al.), "Friction stir welding improvements for metal matrix composites, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys using a superabrasive tool," highlight the ongoing refinement of FSW techniques. These advancements likely focus on improving weld quality, expanding the range of materials suitable for FSW, and enhancing the process's efficiency and versatility.


• Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP): Patents such as US Patent No. 5738574 (Tolles et al.), "Continuous processing system for chemical mechanical polishing," demonstrate advancements in CMP technology, a crucial process for achieving precise surface finishes on semiconductor wafers and other critical components. These innovations likely focus on improving process control, enhancing material removal rates, and minimizing defects.

• US Patent No. 8032990 (Shinma et al.), "Handles for hand-held tools," likely addresses ergonomic considerations in tool design, aiming to reduce operator fatigue and improve comfort during prolonged use.


• US Patent No. 9308638 (Kondo et al.), "Power tool and auxiliary handle member," may describe innovations in tool design that enhance safety and control, such as vibration reduction mechanisms or improved grip configurations.

• Predictive Maintenance: The implementation of sensors and data analytics allows for real-time monitoring of machine tool performance, enabling predictive maintenance and minimizing downtime.


• Digital Twins: The creation of digital twins of machine tools and manufacturing processes enables virtual testing, optimization, and troubleshooting, accelerating development and improving overall efficiency.

The future of machine tools likely lies in the continued integration of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things. As these technologies converge, we can expect to see even more sophisticated and intelligent machine tools that are capable of adapting to changing demands, optimizing performance in real-time, and driving continuous improvement in manufacturing processes.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or business advice.

Note: This article is based on the provided list of patents and may not be exhaustive.

#MachineTools #Manufacturing #Automation #Robotics #AdvancedManufacturing #MaterialsScience #Metalworking #Tooling #IPLaw #PatentLaw #IntellectualProperty #Innovation

References:
Raw data from: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. "Data Download Tables." PatentsView. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://patentsview.org/download/data-download-tables.

Please contact me (carlos@candeloro.net) for methodology, or if you know or believe information presented is not correct.