Adaptive Moving-Along Tool Positioning Innovation

Publication ID: 24-11856961_0002_PTD
Published: October 26, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptive Moving-Along Tool Positioning Innovation,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856961_0002_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856961_0002_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,856,961.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent addressed the limitations of traditional wishbone removal from poultry carcasses, but its underlying principles can be adapted to tackle challenges in distinct fields. This invention fills the gap by applying the moving-along tool positioning concept to novel applications, thereby increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing sustainability.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The novelty of this invention lies in its ability to transcend the original patent's limitations, applying the moving-along tool positioning concept to unprecedented use cases. The inventive step resides in the innovative adaptation of the core technology to address distinct industry-specific challenges, resulting in a paradigm shift towards increased efficiency and sustainability.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include variations in conveyor device designs, processing station configurations, and guiding element materials to accommodate specific industry requirements. For example, the system for automating the assembly of electric vehicles could incorporate advanced robotics, while the method for optimizing the production of solar panels might utilize AI-driven quality control.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

This invention has far-reaching commercial potential across multiple industries, including autonomous underwater exploration, renewable energy, electric vehicle manufacturing, solar panel production, and electronic waste recycling. The market opportunities are vast, with potential clients including industry leaders, startups, and research institutions seeking to enhance their operational efficiency, reduce costs, and promote sustainability.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A22 A22C21/0069
A A22 A22C21/0053

Field of Art

Automated material handling and processing systems, specifically focusing on conveyor-based transportation and positioning of objects through industrial processing stations, with expertise in mechanical engineering, robotics, and automated manufacturing techniques

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A mechanical engineer with 5-7 years of experience in industrial automation, familiar with conveyor system design, robotic positioning mechanisms, and cross-industry transportation technologies, capable of adapting core mechanical principles across different technical domains

Obviousness Rationale

The PTD demonstrates a predictable extension of the source patent's core mechanical principles of conveyor-based positioning and tool interaction by applying the fundamental conveying and processing methodology to diverse industrial contexts. A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent's technical framework of linearly conveyed articles with positioning tools represents a generalizable system architecture applicable across multiple industries. The disclosed variations represent straightforward adaptations of known mechanical transportation and processing concepts to specific industrial use cases.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Conveyor device with receiving elements for holding articles in a linear conveying direction
PTD Variation
Applying the conveyor system to underwater vehicles, electric vehicles, solar panels, and electronic waste
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that the fundamental mechanical principles of article transportation remain consistent across different object types, representing a predictable design adaptation with known techniques
Source Patent Element
Processing station with positioning tools along a conveying line
PTD Variation
Extending positioning tools to offshore wind turbine inspection and electronic waste recycling processes
Obviousness Reasoning
The source patent's positioning mechanism represents a generalizable approach to tool interaction that can be readily modified for different processing requirements using standard engineering design techniques
Source Patent Element
Link guide with work cycle and return guiding paths
PTD Variation
Implementing similar guiding mechanisms for autonomous underwater vehicle monitoring systems
Obviousness Reasoning
The geometric principles of mechanical path guidance are transferable across technical domains, representing a known technique for achieving precise positioning with predictable results
Source Patent Element
Cam track configuration for tool positioning
PTD Variation
Adapting cam track principles to electric vehicle assembly automation
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize cam track mechanisms as a standard method for achieving controlled mechanical motion, making their application to different assembly contexts an obvious design choice
Source Patent Element
Guiding wheel for mechanical positioning
PTD Variation
Implementing similar guiding wheel technologies in solar panel production optimization
Obviousness Reasoning
Wheel-based guidance represents a well-understood mechanical technique for precise positioning, making its adaptation across different manufacturing contexts a predictable engineering solution
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง 103, the variations disclosed herein would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, as they represent straightforward adaptations of the mechanical principles disclosed in US 11856961, applying known transportation and positioning techniques across diverse industrial contexts through standard engineering design methodologies.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,856,961
TitleApparatus and method for moving-along tool positioning as well as assembly and method for wishbone removal
Assignee(s)Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GMBH & Co. KG