Thomas William Richter

US Patent:

55736173, Nov 12, 1996

Filed:

Apr 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/421171

Inventors:

Donald L. Franck - Warren MI
Thomas L. Richter - Sterling Heights MI
Manhar K. Sheth - Troy MI
Thomas C. Mack - Northville MI
Ballard Parsons - Franklin OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B29C 5110
B29C 6502
B29C 6518
B29C 6574

US Classification:

156196

Abstract:

A method for making a two-tone vinyl skin cover for an automotive interior trim panel is provided including heating a first vinyl skin to a working temperature; heating a second vinyl skin to a working temperature; stretching the first vinyl skin over a first male vacuum mold, the first mold having a first welding blade along a translationally separable part line; applying a vacuum via the first mold to the first vinyl skin; stretching the second vinyl skin over a second male vacuum mold, the second male mold having a second welding blade along a translationally separable part line aligned with the translationally separable part line of the first mold; applying a vacuum via the second mold to the second vinyl skin; heating the first and second vinyl skins through the first and second welding blades; and abutting the first and second welding blades together under a pressure force to heat weld the first and second vinyl skins together until such time as the first and second vinyl skins are welded to one another while maintaining the vacuum applied thereto.

US Patent:

59746432, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Jun 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/105077

Inventors:

Timonthy Charles Hays - Troy MI
Thomas Lewis Richter - Sterling Heights MI
Dale Peter Holod - Livonia MI
Jerome Frank Kamyszek - Warren MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B23B 3920
B23Q 522

US Classification:

29 39

Abstract:

An industrial robot has a mounting bracket and a servo motor secured to the mounting bracket for rotation relative thereto about a first axis offset from the vertical by 60. degree. A sensor plate is mounted on one end of the motor, a position sensor is mounted on the bracket and interacts with the sensor plate to sense the rotational home and overtravel positions of the motor. A tool changer is coaxially mounted on the other end of the motor and has means for mounting a turret for coaxial rotation by the motor. A turret having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced tools is mounted on the tool changer for operation on a second axis offset 60. degree. from the first axis, such that each tool is rotatable about the first axis to a vertical working position. A video camera is mounted on the mounting bracket in a position to view the working position, and a controller, including a vision processor for interpreting the output of the video camera, controls the robot and the motor to position a preselected tool in a location to perform an operation on a workpiece. The tool changer releasably mounts the turret to enable quick mounting and release of a series of turrets each mounting different tools.

US Patent:

53415442, Aug 30, 1994

Filed:

May 7, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/057928

Inventors:

Thomas L. Richter - Sterling Heights MI
Michael W. Jary - West Bloomfield MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

A44B 1700

US Classification:

24289

Abstract:

A fastener assembly for detachably connecting a molded door trim panel to an apertured inner door panel of a vehicle, where upon disassembly, the fastener assembly will disengage, or a replaceable portion will fracture without damaging the molded door trim panel. A detent is utilized to connect a hook portion to a retainer housing that is molded into the molded door trim panel. Upon the hook portion being mistakenly pulled against the inner door panel during disassembly, the detent will either disengage the hook portion from the retainer housing, or the hook portion will fracture before the retainer housing is damaged or disconnected from the molded door trim panel. By preventing damage to the retainer housing and molded door trim panel, only the hook portion of the hook fastener assembly need be replaced or reconnected, instead of the entire molded door trim panel.