Frank J Robb

US Patent:

7296488, Nov 20, 2007

Filed:

Apr 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/098732

Inventors:

Vince F. Hock - Mahomet IL, US
Charles P. Marsh - Urbana IL, US
Warren C. Whittaker - Pittsburgh PA, US
Frank Robb - Middletown DE, US

Assignee:

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 29/26
G01D 21/00

US Classification:

738665, 73618, 73623, 738658

Abstract:

A system incorporating a robot to inspect ferrous surfaces. Preferably, the robot is an articulated device having a tractor module for motive power and steering, a power module for electrical power and communications and additional motive power, and a third module for cleaning and inspection. The robot uses sensors and generates and transmits signals to a computer through a tether and receives direction from an operator via the computer and tether. The computer continuously monitors the location of the robot and supports the robot during deployment. In a specific application, the robot travels the interior of a tank on a set of magnetized wheels. Prior to inspection, the tank surface is cleaned of deposits by rotary cutters and rotary brushes on the third module. The robot obtains thickness measurements via onboard ultrasonic transducers that contact the cleaned surface. A method for implementing inspection of ferrous surfaces is also described.

US Patent:

8232103, Jul 31, 2012

Filed:

Aug 8, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/500672

Inventors:

Kerry Lynn Miller - Elkton MD, US
Frank Jay Robb - Middletown DE, US
Peter Louis Gebrian - Wilmington DE, US
Sandor Lajos Kovacs - Middletown DE, US

Assignee:

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. - Deerfield IL

International Classification:

G01N 35/04

US Classification:

436 47, 436 43, 422 63, 422 65, 1984651, 19886711, 19886713, 1983695

Abstract:

A method for replacing a first sample carried on a moving secondary conveyor onto a moving primary conveyor at a potential interference point while the primary conveyor is transporting a second sample.

US Patent:

20080148876, Jun 26, 2008

Filed:

Apr 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/789812

Inventors:

Vince Hock - Champaign IL, US
Charles Marsh - Champaign IL, US
Warren Whittaker - Pittsburgh PA, US
Frank Robb - Pittsburgh PA, US

International Classification:

G01M 19/00

US Classification:

738658

Abstract:

A system incorporating a robot to inspect ferrous surfaces. Preferably, the robot is an articulated device having a tractor module for motive power and steering, a power module for electrical power and communications and additional motive power, and a third module for cleaning and inspection. The robot uses sensors and transmits signals to a computer through a tether and receives direction from an operator via the computer and tether. The computer continuously monitors the location of the robot and supports the robot during deployment. In a specific application, the robot travels the interior of a tank on a set of magnetized wheels. Prior to measurement, the tank surface is cleaned of deposits by rotary cutters and rotary brushes on the third module. The robot obtains at least thickness measurements via onboard ultrasonic transducers that contact the cleaned surface. A method for implementing inspection of ferrous surfaces is also described.

US Patent:

20090028754, Jan 29, 2009

Filed:

Jul 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/829350

Inventors:

Frank Jay Robb - Middletown DE, US

Assignee:

DADE BEHRING INC. - Deerfield IL

International Classification:

G01N 35/02
B01L 9/00

US Classification:

422 65, 422104

Abstract:

A sample tube carrier insert having a bottom portions with opposing projections vertically extending above bottom portion so that an interference-fit is formed between the bottom of a sample tube carried by the carrier and the projections to prevent undesirable rotation of the tube.

US Patent:

44693192, Sep 4, 1984

Filed:

Nov 22, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/443801

Inventors:

Frank J. Robb - Fairport NY
Fred F. Wilczak - Pittsford NY

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65H 3120

US Classification:

271 31

Abstract:

In a sheet stacking apparatus, especially a recirculating document handler for recirculating document sheets for precollation copying at a copier platen to and from a stack in a document tray without obstructing access to the document tray, with restacking edge guides repositionable to accommodate stacking different sheet sizes and a restacking feeder for restacking the document sheets in the tray within the restacking edge guides by feeding each document in over the top of the stack from one edge and releasing the document to restack, there is provided automatically varying corrugation restacking apparatus enabling controlled restacking for recirculative copying of large flimsy documents such as Japanese B4 size sheets compatibly with normal document sizes having sheet corrugating members repositioned by movement of a repositionable restacking edge guide into a position to restack such large sheets and automatically providing in coordination therewith additional sheet corrugation in response to the flimsiness and size of the sheet.

US Patent:

55030360, Apr 2, 1996

Filed:

May 9, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/239625

Inventors:

Dinh Nguyen - Wellington OH
Frank Robb - Amherst OH

Assignee:

Ciba Corning Diagnostics Corp. - Medfield MA

International Classification:

G01N 114
G01N 3510

US Classification:

7386434

Abstract:

An obstruction detection circuit for detecting an obstruction of a sample probe of an automated sample aspiration/dispensation device and a method for detecting such an obstruction. In one embodiment the obstruction detection circuit includes a pressure sensor measuring the pressure in a fluid conduit connecting a pump and the sample probe orifice. The pressure within the connecting fluid conduit is measured by the pressure sensor shortly after the start of the aspiration or dispensation of a fluid volume by the automated sample aspiration/dispensation device. The pressure within the connecting fluid conduit is again measured after the completion of the aspiration or dispensation, and if the pressure has not returned to a predetermined range within a predetermined amount of time, an error condition is reported.