Automated machines that include hose attachment manifolds for hose management

{
  "publication_number": "US12064781B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Automated machines that include hose attachment manifolds for hose management",
  "abstract": "A robotic arm includes a tool located at an end of the robotic arm that delivers a material to a surface. A hose attachment manifold is mounted to the robotic arm. The hose attachment manifold includes an array of openings that extend through a manifold body of the hose attachment manifold. Fittings are mounted to the manifold body and within the openings. A plurality of upstream hoses are mounted to the fittings at a side of the manifold body. A plurality of downstream hoses are mounted to the fittings at an opposite side of the manifold body. The plurality of downstream hoses are fluidly connected to the tool for delivering a fluid material received from the plurality of upstream hoses.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A robotic arm comprising: a tool located at an end of the robotic arm that delivers a material to a surface; a hose attachment manifold that is mounted to an outer surface of the robotic arm, the hose attachment manifold comprising an array of openings that extend completely through a manifold body of the hose attachment manifold without intersecting each other; fittings mounted to the manifold body and within the array of openings, the fittings being exposed outside the outer surface of the robotic arm; a plurality of upstream hoses mounted to the fittings at a side of the manifold body outside an outer surface of an upstream facing side of the manifold body; and a plurality of downstream hoses mounted to the fittings at an opposite side of the manifold body outside an outer surface of a downstream facing side of the manifold body, the plurality of downstream hoses are fluidly connected to the tool for delivering a fluid material received from the plurality of upstream hoses.",
    "2. The robotic arm of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a paint spray gun, the fluid material comprising a paint.",
    "3. The robotic arm of claim 1, wherein some of the openings through the manifold body have different diameters than others of the openings through the manifold body.",
    "4. The robotic arm of claim 1, wherein the manifold body forms part of a fluid passageway between the plurality of upstream hoses and the plurality of downstream hoses.",
    "5. The robotic arm of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of upstream hoses are connected to a first material supply and others of the plurality of upstream hoses are connected to a second material supply.",
    "6. The robotic arm of claim 5, wherein the first material supply comprises a first material and the second material supply comprises a second material that is different than the first material."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present specification generally relates to automated machines, and more specifically, automated machines that include hose attachment manifolds for hose management.\n\nA number of automated machines (e.g., industrial robots) are available for various assembly functions within automobile assembly lines. As an example, automated machines may be used for picking target objects, for example, from a bin or other location and placing the objects at a different, preselected location. As another example, automated machines may be used for welding, such as resistance spot welding. As yet another example, automated machines may be used to apply paint or other materials to surfaces.\n\nIn the material application example, a number of hoses may be used to deliver the material to a tool that is used to apply the material. As the automated machine moves along multiple axes, the hoses can become tangled or otherwise placed in a bind. In some situations, the hoses may rupture or break resulting in loss of material that may need cleaned, requiring operator time and a need to stop operation of the automated machine.\n\nAccordingly, a need exists for industrial robots with hose attachment manifolds that provide hose management.\n\nIn one embodiment, a robotic arm includes a tool located at an end of the robotic arm that delivers a material to a surface. A hose attachment manifold is mounted to the robotic arm. The hose attachment manifold includes an array of openings that extend through a manifold body of the hose attachment manifold. Fittings are mounted to the manifold body and within the openings.",
  "cpc": [
    "B05B 13/0431",
    "B05B 12/1454",
    "B05B 15/14",
    "B25J 11/0075",
    "B25J 15/0019",
    "B25J 9/0009"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05B 12/14",
    "B05B 13/04",
    "B05B 15/14",
    "B25J 15/00",
    "B25J 9/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jesse Howard Thompson",
    "Devin Cole Harris"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-08-09",
  "publication_date": "2024-08-20",
  "grant_date": "2024-08-20",
  "priority_date": "2021-08-09",
  "application_number": "US-202117397430-A",
  "family_id": "85152703",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US20040060510A1",
    "US20090017212A1",
    "US20090166478A1",
    "KR100811236B1",
    "JP2009142918A",
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    "US20150321210A1",
    "US20190022851A1",
    "US20190091641A1",
    "KR102253730B1"
  ]
}