Blanking and trim die including an integrated power grinding tool
Granted: September 10, 2024
Patent Number:
12083607
An apparatus for trimming a sheet metal panel in a die set. A grinding tool including a grinding wheel driven by a rotary drive is used to grind away a shear affected zone from the trimmed edge formed by the trim steel. The grinding tool is disposed within a cavity defined by the reciprocating die and is oriented to grind away a shear affected zone as the reciprocating die moves the grinding tool into engagement with the trimmed edge.
Mechanical applicator for use in stamping die process to apply thermo-chromatic ink to aluminum heat treated panels
Granted: August 6, 2024
Patent Number:
12053812
A method of applying a marking to a part in a stamping die includes moving a component of the stamping die, the component having a mechanical application device secured thereto. A controlled volume of a marking medium flows through the mechanical application device during the moving such that a volume of the marking medium is controlled by the moving of the component during a stamping die operation. In one form, the component is an upper die of the stamping die.
Deburring equipment for blank pile
Granted: July 2, 2024
Patent Number:
12023776
A device for deburring edges of a pile of metal blanks includes a first roller, a second roller, at least one motor, and a main body. The first roller is supported for rotation about a first axis. The second roller is supported for rotation about a second axis. The at least one motor is drivingly coupled to the first and second rollers to rotate the first roller in a first rotational direction and the second roller in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational…
Composite ultrasonic material applicators with individually addressable micro-applicators and methods of use thereof
Granted: June 11, 2024
Patent Number:
12005463
A material applicator for controlling application of at least one material on a substrate includes a housing and an array plate with an applicator array positioned within the housing. The applicator array has a plurality of micro-applicators and each of the plurality of micro-applicators has an ultrasonic transducer, a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures. The applicator plate is in mechanical communication with the ultrasonic transducer…
Flange forming device and method of forming a flange on a sheet metal part to reduce surface distortion
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11992870
A method of forming a vehicle panel includes deforming a sheet metal workpiece between stamping tools to form a first and second edges that converge at a corner of the workpiece's main surface. The first edge is defined by a junction of the main surface and a first flange. The second edge is defined the main surface and a second flange. Forming the first and second edges includes deforming the workpiece so that the second flange has a first region bent to a first angle relative to the…
Tooling assembly with internal coolant passages for machines
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11986919
The present disclosure is directed toward a tooling assembly for a machine having an automatic tool changing system. The tooling assembly includes a holder, a tool body, and an internal passage defined within and extending through the holder and the tool body. The holder includes a machine interface configured to engage with a spindle of the machine. The internal passage is operable to have a coolant fluid flow within, and has a stem channel and a curved channel extending from the stem…
Parking pawl spring pre-tensioning and assembly tool system and method
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11981002
A tool system for installing a parking pawl includes a tool that includes a base, a plate, and an actuator. The base includes a base surface configured to support a parking pawl in a predetermined position. The plate includes a protrusion that extends upward from a front portion of the plate. A rear portion of the plate is coupled to a front portion of the base. The plate is movable relative to the base between a retention position in which the protrusion is positioned to retain a pawl…
Varnish applicator for electric motor
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11973384
An electric motor includes a stator, an insulating layer, and a wire. The stator includes a first circular laminate and a second circular laminate. The first laminate includes a first finger having a distal end extending toward a center point of the first circular laminate. The second laminate includes a second finger having a distal end extending toward a center point of the second circular laminate. The first and second fingers define a wall. The distal ends of the first and second…
Insert to reduce weld line appearance defect in injection molding
Granted: March 26, 2024
Patent Number:
11938659
A method of forming a part includes locating an insert at an angle within a mold cavity, sending a quantity of molten resin through the mold cavity to form a first melt front, and sending another quantity of molten resin through the mold cavity to form a second melt front such that the first melt front meets the second melt front at a weld line and each front flows along opposite sides of the insert. The mold cavity can define opposed internal surfaces and the insert can be disposed at…
Hydroforming of porthole extrusion with non-equiangular seams
Granted: February 27, 2024
Patent Number:
11911817
An apparatus for forming a part is provided, which includes a die. The die includes a round orifice, a central mandrel disposed within the round orifice, and a plurality of bridges and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges. The bridges and the portholes extending around the central mandrel. A spacing of the bridges around the mandrel is non-equiangular. The die allows a material to be extruded through the die to form a round, closed geometry tube from the material…
Systems and methods for generating synthetic images of a training database
Granted: January 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11886541
A method includes generating one or more nominal images of at least a portion of a digital twin of an environment, defining one or more anomalous characteristics of the one or more components, generating one or more anomalous images of the portion of the digital twin of the environment based on the field of view and the one or more anomalous characteristics, performing a tessellation routine and a texture mapping routine on the one or more nominal images and the one or more anomalous…
Precision air flow routing devices and method for thermal spray coating
Granted: January 23, 2024
Patent Number:
11879173
A method of controlling deposition of material from at least one plasma transferred wire arc (PTWA) torch within at least one bore includes: directing a fluid through a duct; and directing the fluid through a number of cannons N disposed adjacent and downstream from the duct. The fluid is directed through the duct and N cannons and past the PTWA torch while the PTWA torch is spraying downstream from N?1 cannons.
Ultrasonic atomizer with acoustic focusing device
Granted: January 23, 2024
Patent Number:
11878318
An atomizer for applying a coating includes a nozzle plate, an actuator, and an acoustic focusing device. The nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The actuator is configured to oscillate to form pressure waves within a fluid to eject the fluid from the nozzle plate. The acoustic focusing device focuses the pressure waves toward the apertures.
Composite ultrasonic material applicators with embedded shaping gas micro-applicators and methods of use thereof
Granted: January 16, 2024
Patent Number:
11872580
A method of controlling application of at least one material onto a substrate includes configuring a material applicator having an array plate with an applicator array. The applicator array has a plurality of micro-applicators with a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators. Each of the plurality of micro-applicators has a plurality of apertures through which fluid is ejected. The first subset of micro-applicators and the second subset of…
Dual torque and injection molding device
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11820057
A tool for driving a threaded fastener includes a driver head, a motor, and an injector. The driver head includes a spindle rotatable about an axis. A distal end of the spindle defines a plurality of drive surfaces configured to engage mating drive surfaces on the fastener to rotate the fastener about the axis. The driver head defines a fluid passage having an outlet proximate to the distal end of the spindle. The motor is drivingly coupled to the spindle to rotate the spindle about the…
Systems and methods for determining a vehicle location in a manufacturing environment
Granted: November 14, 2023
Patent Number:
11816859
A method for determining a location of a vehicle including one or more image sensors in a manufacturing environment includes determining, when a key cycle transition condition of the vehicle and a vehicle gear transition condition of the vehicle are satisfied, a location parameter of the vehicle based on an image including a location tag and a previous image obtained from the one or more image sensors. The method includes determining a vehicle time period based on the image and the…
Additive manufacturing post-processing system
Granted: October 31, 2023
Patent Number:
11801640
A post-processing system includes a rinse tank, a robot arm, a locking fixture, and a controller. The robot arm is configured to engage and move a workpiece. The locking fixture includes a platform support structure and a clamping assembly. The controller is in communication with the robot arm and the platform locking fixture. The controller is configured to instruct the robot arm to move the workpiece from a workstation to the rinse tank, instruct the robot arm to move the workpiece…
Aluminum dust collection and compacting method
Granted: October 24, 2023
Patent Number:
11794435
A method of forming a compact includes removing material from a workpiece, transferring metallic dust released during the material removal into a conduit, operating a plurality of slide gates to selectively control movement of the dust from the conduit to either one of a primary collector and a back-up collector, drawing the dust through the conduit to a compactor, and compacting the dust in the compactor.
Varnish applicator for electric motor
Granted: October 24, 2023
Patent Number:
11799368
A varnish injection system includes a varnish injector including a base, a nozzle extending from the base, and a spacer disposed on the nozzle, and an electric motor including a stator, a wire, and an insulating layer between the stator and the wire. The nozzle is arranged to deposit varnish between the stator and the insulating layer. The nozzle and the stator define a gap therebetween when the spacer engages the stator.
Hybrid cast vehicle assembly with structural reinforcements
Granted: October 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11780505
A hybrid structural assembly for a motor vehicle includes a casting and a structural inlay. The casting includes a plurality of structural components joined together in a casting process to form structural load paths and extending in a plurality of directions in a 3D space. The casting includes a cast-allowable alloy material. The structural inlay is secured to at least one of the structural components. The structural inlay includes a material having at least one of a higher ductility…
