molon motor & coil v. merkle-korff - complaint

8/16/2019 Molon Motor & Coil v. Merkle-Korff - Complaint

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTFOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

EASTERN DIVISION

MOLON MOTOR AND COIL

CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

v.

MERKLE-KORFF INDUSTRIES, INC.,KINETEK, INC., NIDEC KINETEKCORPORATION, and NIDEC MOTORCORPORATION

Defendants.

Case No. ______________

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff Molon Motor and Coil Corporation (“Molon”), by and through its undersigned

counsel, files this Complaint for Patent Infringement against Defendants Merkle-Korff

Industr ies, Inc. (“Merkle-Korff”), Kinetek, Inc. (“Kinetek”), Nidec Kinetek Corporation (“Nidec

Kinetek”), and Nidec Motor Corporation (“Nidec Motor”) (collectively, “Defendants”), and

hereby alleges as follows:

NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This is an action for patent infringement of United States Patent No. 6,465,915

and United States Design Patent No. D451,072 under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35

U.S.C. § 1, et seq., seeking damages and injunctive and other relief under 35 U.S.C. § 281, et

seq.

THE PARTIES

2. Plaintiff Molon is a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Illinois with

its principal place of business at 300 North Ridge Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005.

3. Upon information and belief, Defendant Merkle-Korff is a corporation formed

under the laws of the State of Delaware with a principal place of business at 1776 Winthrop

Drive, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. Merkle-Korff is a business unit of its parent, Kinetek, Inc and

Case: 1:16-cv-03545 Document #: 1 Filed: 03/23/16 Page 1 of 15 PageID #:1


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a subsidiary of Nidec Corporation, headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. Merkle-Korff may be served

with process via its registered agent, Illinois Corporation Service Company, 801 Adlai

Stevenson Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703.

4. Upon information and belief, Defendant Kinetek is a corporation formed under

the laws of the State of Delaware with a principal place of business at 25 Northwest Point

Boulevard, Suite 900, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007. Kinetek is a subsidiary of Nidec

Corporation, headquartered in Kyoto Japan.

5. Upon information and belief, Defendant Nidec Kinetek is a corporation formed

under the laws of the State of Delaware with a principal place of business at 1751 Lake Cook

Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015. Nidec Kinetek is a subsidiary of Nidec Corporation,

headquartered in Kyoto Japan.

6. Upon information and belief, Defendant Nidec Motor is a corporation formed

under the laws of the State of Delaware with a principal place of business at 8050 W Florissant

Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63136. Nidec Motor is a subsidiary of Nidec Corporation,

headquartered in Kyoto Japan. Nidec Motor may be served with process via its registered

agent, Illinois Corporation Service Company, 801 Adlai Stevenson Drive, Springfield, Illinois

62703.

7. Upon information and belief. Merkle-Korff, Kinetek and Nidec Kinetek reside in

the Northern District of Illinois (“District”).

8. Upon information and belief, Defendants have conducted and regularly conduct

business within this District, have purposefully availed themselves of the privileges of

conducting business in this District, and have sought protection and benefit from the laws of the

State of Illinois.



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JURISDICTION AND VENUE

9. This action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1, et

seq., including 35 U.S.C. §§ 271, 281, 283, 284, and 285. This Court has subject matter

jurisdiction over this case for patent infringement under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).

10. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants. Defendants either reside

in this District and/or have continuous and systematic business contacts with the State of

Illinois. Defendants, directly or through subsidiaries or intermediaries (including distributors,

retailers, and others), conduct their business extensively throughout Illinois, by making,

shipping, distributing, offering for sale, selling, and advertising their products and/or services in

the State of Illinois and this District. Defendants, directly and through subsidiaries or

intermediaries, purposefully and voluntarily placed one or more infringing products and/or

services into the stream of commerce within the Northern District of Illinois. Defendants have

committed acts of patent infringement within the State of Illinois and this District. Molon’s cause

of action for patent infringement arises directly from Defendants’ activities in this District.

11. Venue is proper in this Court according to the venue provisions set forth by 28

U.S.C. §§ 1391(b)-(d) and 1400(b). Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this

District, either because they reside in this District or under the Illinois Long-Arm Statute, 735

ILCS 5/2-209, and are therefore deemed to reside in this District for purposes of venue.

Moreover, upon information and belief Defendants committed acts within this judicial District

giving rise to this action and do business in this District, including but not limited to making,

shipping, distributing, offering for sale, selling, and advertising their products and/or services in

this District.



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BACKGROUND

A. The Patents-In-Suit.

12. United States Patent No. 6,465,915 (“the ’915 Patent”), entitled “Miniature

Motor,” was duly and legally issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on October 15,

2002, after full and fair examination. Mohamed Kerdjoudj and A.N. Tsergas are the named

inventors listed on the ’915 Patent. The inventors assigned all rights in the ’915 Patent to

Molon. Molon has all right, title and interest to the ’915 Patent as well as the right to sue for,

collect, and receive damages for past, present and future infringements of the ’915 Patent . The

’915 Patent is valid and in force. A true and correct copy of the ’915 Patent is attached as

Exhibit A and made a part hereof.

13. United States Design Patent No. D451,072 (“the ’072 Patent”), entitled “Compact

Gear Motor Box,” was duly and legally issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on

November 27, 2001, after full and fair examination. Mohamed Kerdjoudj and A.N. Tsergas are

the named inventors listed on the ’072 Patent. The inventors assigned all rights in the ’072

Patent to Molon. Molon has all right, title and interest to the ’072 Patent as well as the right to

sue for, collect, and receive damages for past, present and future infringements of the ’072

Patent. The ’072 Patent is valid and in force. A true and correct copy of the ’072 Patent is

attached as Exhibit B and made a part hereof.

B. Defendants’ Infringing Conduct.

14. Upon information and belief, Defendants make, use, offer to sell, and/or sell

within, and/or import into the United States products that incorporate the fundamental

technologies covered by at least claims 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the ’915 Patent, and incorporated the

fundamental design of the ’072 Patent. Upon information and belief, the infringing products

include, but are not limited to, custom low-voltage direct current low-profile right angle gear box

motors (“Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motor s”). By way of example only,

Molon identifies the S3210 (bearing a “VMR5” designation) and S4405 gear box motors as



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boss connected at one end to the cover and configured to stabilize the pinion gear.

26. Defendants’ Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors have a

cradle bearing formed in the cover and configured to receive one shaft end of the first-stage

worm in order to prevent the first-stage worm from bending during operation.

27. In Defendants’ Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors, the

first-stage worm, the pinion gear, the worm gear, the at least one cluster gear and the output

gear form the gear train.


support plate connected between the DC motor and the first-stage worm.


device configured to fasten the support plate to the DC motor so that the DC motor and the first-

stage worm remain connected together in a straight line during rotation of the first-stage worm.


pinion shaft mounted below the pinion gear and above the worm gear.

31. Defendants’ Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors are a

design for a compact gear box motor.

C. Defendants’ Knowledge of the ’915 Patent

32. On August 4, 2004, Molon filed a complaint for patent infringement against

Merkle-Korff in the Northern District of Illinois (Civil Action No. 1:04-cv-5134) alleging

infringement of United States Patent No. 6,054,785. The parties resolved this litigation

pursuant to written agreement and a stipulated dismissal was entered on February 16, 2007.

As part of the resolution, Merkle-Korff and its parent, Kinetek, sought a broad license to the ’915

patent, which Molon declined to convey. Consequently, Defendants have had knowledge of the

’915 patent since at least February 2007.



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COUNT I

Patent Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,465,915

33. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of paragraphs 1-32 as

though fully set forth herein.

34. The ’915 Patent is valid and enforceable.

35. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been and are currently directly

infringing under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, at least

claims 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the ’915 Patent by making, us ing, offering to sell, and/or selling to third-

party manufacturers, distributors, and/or consumers (directly or through intermediaries and/or

subsidiaries) in this District and elsewhere within the United States and/or importing into the

United States, without authority, Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors,

including not limited to the S3210 and S4405, that include all of the limitations of at least claims

1, 2, 3 and 9 of the ’915 Patent.

36. Upon information and belief, third-party manufacturers that purchase

Defendants’ Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors that include all of the

limitations of one or more claims of the ’915 Patent, including but not limited to the S3210 and

S4405, also directly infringe, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, under 35

U.S.C. § 271(a), the claims of the ’915 Patent by using, offering to sell, and/or selling infringing

products in this District and elsewhere in the United States and/or importing infringing products

into the United States.

37. Upon information and belief, Defendants have had knowledge of the’915 Patent

at least as of February 2007.

38. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been and are currently indirectly

infringing, by way of inducement with specific intent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b), at least claims 1,

2, 3 and 9 of the ’915 Patent. Defendants’ customers, including but not limited to

SandenVendo, Royal Vendors, and Aquion, directly infringe at least claims 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the



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’915 Patent by using, offering to sell, and/or selling products, including but not limited to vending

machines and water filtration systems, containing the infringing Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right

Angle Gear Box Motors in this District and elsewhere in the United States and/or importing

products containing the infringing Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors into

the United States. Upon information and belief, as of at least February 2007, Defendants have

known and continue to know that Defendants’ customers are directly infringing at least one

claim of the ’915 Patent. Upon information and belief, Defendants have demonstrated specific

intent to encourage their customers to infringe the claims of the ’915 Patent by (i) providing

designs, pursuant to both Defendants’ and customers’ specifications, for the Custom LVDC

Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors; (ii) manufacturing and shipping prototypes of the

Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors; (iii) performing testing and

qualification of the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors; (iv) marketing and

generating offers to sell the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors; and (v)

providing customer support for the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors. All

of these active steps, performed in the United States and within this District, are taken to

encourage direct infringement and show an affirmative intent that the Custom LVDC Low-Profile

Right Angle Gear Box Motors be used to infringe the ’915 Patent.

39. By inducing their customers to use the inventions claimed in the ’915 Patent,

including through their use of the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors,

Defendants have been and are now indirectly infringing under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) one or more

claims of the ’915 Patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, including at least

claim 1, 2, 3 and 9.

40. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been and are currently indirectly

infringing, by way of contributing to the infringement of others under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c), at least

claims 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the ’915 Patent. Defendants’ customers, including but not limited to

SandenVendo, Royal Vendors, and Aquion, directly infringe at least claims 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the



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’915 Patent by using, offering to sell, and/or selling products, including but not limited to vending

machines and water filtration systems, containing the infringing Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right

Angle Gear Box Motors in this District and elsewhere in the United States and/or importing

products containing the infringing Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors into

the United States. Upon information and belief, as of at least February 2007, Defendants have

known of the ’915 Patent. Upon information and belief, Defendants have made, used, sold,

offered for sale certain components of the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box

Motors in the United States, and/or imported certain components, including but not limited to

gear box casings, gears and electric motors, into the United States, those components not

being staple articles of commerce and not having any substantial use outside of infringement of

at least one claim of the ’915 Patent.

41. By contributing to their customers’ use of the inventions claimed in the ’915

Patent, including through their use of the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box

Motors, Defendants have been and are now indirectly infringing under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c) one

or more claims of the ’915 Patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, including

at least claim 1, 2, 3 and 9.

42. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been and are currently infringing,

by way of inducement with specific intent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(1), at least claims 1, 2, 3 and

9 of the ’915 Patent by supplying components, including but not limited to gear box casings,

gears and electric motors, of the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors in

and from the United States, knowing that such components are so made or adapted and

intending that such components will be combined outside of the United States to form the

Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors that would infringe the ’915 Patent if

such combination occurred within the United States. Upon information and belief, Defendants

have known and continue to know that components for the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right

Angle Gear Box Motors are supplied in and from the United States to at least their affiliates in



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Mexico where those components are combined in whole or in part to form the Custom LVDC

Low-Pr ofile Right Angle Gear Box Motors that would infringe the ’915 Patent if such

combination occurred within the United States.

43. By inducing the combination of components at their affiliates’ manufacturing and

assembly facilities outside of the United States to form the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right

Angle Gear Box Motors, Defendants have been and are now infringing under 35 U.S.C. §

271(f)(1) one or more claims of the ’915 Patent, either literally or under the doctrine of

equivalents, including at least claim 1, 2, 3 and 9.

44. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been and are currently infringing,

by way of contribution under 35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(2), at least claims 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the ’915

Patent by supplying components, including but not limited to gear box casings, gears and

electric motors, of the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors in and from the

United States, knowing that such components are especially made or especially adapted for

use in the invention of the ’915 Patent and not a staple article or commodity of commerce

suitable for substantial noninfringing use, knowing that such components are so made or

adapted and intending that such components will be combined outside of the United States to

form the Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors that would infringe the ’915

Patent if such combination occurred within the United States. Upon information and belief,

Defendants have known and continue to know that components for the Custom LVDC Low-

Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors are supplied in and from the United States to at least their

affiliates in Mexico where those components are combined in whole or in part to form the

Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors that would infringe the ’915 Patent if

such combination occurred within the United States.

45. By contributing to the combination of components at their affiliates’

manufacturing and assembly facilities outside of the United States to form the Custom LVDC

Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors, Defendants have been and are now infringing under



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35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(2) one or more claims of the ’915 Patent, either literally or under the doctrine

of equivalents, including at least claim 1, 2, 3 and 9.

46. As a result of Defendants’ unlawful infringement of the ’915 Patent, Molon has

suffered and will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proven at trial. Molon is

entitled to recover from Defendants the damages adequate to compensate for such

infringement in the form of both lost profits and a reasonable royalty, which have yet to be

determined.

47. Molon is entitled to pre-suit damages for Defendants’ infringement of the ’915

Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 287(a).

48. Defendants will continue to infringe the ’915 Patent unless and until they are

enjoined by this Court.

49. Despite Defendants’ knowledge of the ’915 Patent and the gear box motor

technology that it covered since at least as early as February 2007, and despite Defendants’

knowledge that they lacked the requisite license to the ’915 Patent, Defendants have

nevertheless continued to directly infringe the ’915 Patent under 35 U.S.C. §§ 271(a), 271(f)(1)

and 271(f)(2), induce the infringement of the ’915 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b), and

contribute to the infringement of the ’915 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c), through the making,

using, selling, offering for sale, importing and providing components of their Custom LVDC Low-

Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors, despite knowing that their actions and products directly

and/or indirectly infringed the ’915 Patent. At a minimum, an objectively high likelihood existed

that Defendants’ actions constituted infringement of the ’915 Patent. This infringement was

known to Defendants or was so obvious that Defendants should have known about this

infringement. Despite knowing that their actions constituted infringement of the ’915 Patent

and/or despite knowing that that there was a high likelihood that their actions constituted

infringement of the ’915 Patent, Defendants nevertheless continued their infringing actions, and



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continued to make, use, sell, offer for sale, import and provide components for their Custom

LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear Box Motors.

50. Defendants’ infringement of the ’915 Patent has thus been deliberate and willful.

COUNT II

Patent Infringement of U.S. Design Patent No. D451,072

51. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of paragraphs 1-32 as

though fully set forth herein.

52. The ’072 Patent is valid and enforceable.

53. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been and are currently directly

infringing the ’072 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a) by making, using, offering to sell, and/or

selling to third-party manufacturers, distributors, and/or consumers (directly or through

intermediaries and/or subsidiaries) in this District and elsewhere within the United States and/or

importing into the United States, without authority, Custom LVDC Low-Profile Right Angle Gear

Box Motors, including not limited to the S3210 and S4405.

54. As a result of Defendants’ unlawful infringement of the ’072 Patent, Molon has

suffered and will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proven at trial. Molon is

entitled to recover from Defendants the damages adequate to compensate for such

infringement in the form of lost profits, a reasonable royalty and/or Defendants’ total profits

pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 289, all of which have yet to be determined.

55. Molon is entitled to pre-suit damages for Defendants’ infringement of the ’072

Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 287(a).

56. Defendants will continue to infringe the ’072 Patent unless and until they are

enjoined by this Court.

JURY DEMAND

57. Molon hereby requests a trial by jury pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure.



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PRAYER FOR RELIEF

Molon respectfully requests that the Court find in its favor and against Defendants, and

that the Court grants Molon the following relief:

A. Holding that Defendants have directly infringed, either literally or under the

doctrine of equivalents, at least one claim of the ’915 Patent under 35 U.S.C. §

271(a);

B. Holding that Defendants have induced infringement of at least one claim of the

’915 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b);

C. Holding that Defendants have contributed to the infringement of at least one

claim of the ’915 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c);

D. Holding that Defendants have infringed at least one claim of the ’915 Patent

under 35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(1);

E. Holding that Defendants have infringed at least one claim of the ’915 Patent

under 35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(1);

F. Holding that Defendants have willfully infringed at least one claim of the ’915

Patent.

G. Holding that the ’915 Patent is valid and enforceable;

H. Permanently enjoining Defendants and their officers, directors, agents,

servants, employees, affiliates, divisions, branches, subsidiaries, parents and all

others acting in concert or privity with any of them from infringing, inducing the

infringement of or contributing to the infringement of the ’915 Patent;

I. Awarding to Molon the damages to which it is entitled under 35 U.S.C. § 284 for

Defendants’ past infringement and any continuing or future infringement of the

’915 Patent up until the date Defendants are finally and permanently enjoined

from further infringement, including compensatory damages and the trebling of

such damages due to the willful nature of the infringement;



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J. Holding that Defendants have directly infringed the ’072 Patent under 35 U.S.C.

§ 271(a);

K. Holding that the ’072 Patent is valid and enforceable;

L. Permanently enjoining Defendants and their officers, directors, agents,

servants, employees, affiliates, divisions, branches, subsidiaries, parents and all

others acting in concert or privity with any of them from infringing, inducing the

infringement of or contributing to the infringement of the ’072 Patent;

M. Awarding to Molon the damages to which it is entitled under 35 U.S.C. §§ 284

and/or 289 for Defendants’ past infringement and any continuing or future

infringement of the ’072 Patent up until the date Defendants are finally and

permanently enjoined from further infringement, including compensatory

damages;

N. Declaring this to be an exceptional case and awarding Molon attorneys’ fees

under 35 U.S.C. § 285;

O. Awarding Molon costs and expenses in this action;

P. Awarding Molon pre- and post-judgment interest on its damages; and

Q. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable.

Dated: March 22, 2016Mishcon de Reya New York LLPBy: /s/ John F. Petrsoric John F. Petrsoric (#3995313)Robert A. WhitmanMark S. Raskin

2 Park Avenue South, 20th FloorNew York, New York 10016Telephone: (212) 612-3270Fax: (212) 612-3297

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Attorneys for Plaintiff Molon Motor and Coil Corp.


mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Local Counsel:

Sara E. Cook

Kristin Tauras33 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1400

Chicago, IL 60602

312-558-3900

[email protected]

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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EXHIBIT A

Case: 1:16-cv-03545 Document #: 1-1 Filed: 03/23/16 Page 1 of 10 PageID #:16


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1 2 ) United S t a t e s

Patent

K e r d j o u d j e t a l .

US006465915B1

1 0 ) P a t e n t

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4 5 )

Date o f P a t e n t :

US 6 , 4 6 5 , 9 1 5

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1 5 , 2 0 0 2

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7 5 )

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6 3 )

5 1 )

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MINIATURIZED

MOTOR

I n v e n t o r s : Mohamed K e r d j o u d j , C h i c a g o ;

A .

N .

T s e r g a s ,

Wood D a l e ,

b o t h

o f

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A s s i g n e e :

Molon

Motor

o i l

C o r p o r a t i o n ,

R o l l i n g M e a d o w s ,

I L U S )

N o t i c e : S u b j e c t

t o

a n y d i s c l a i m e r ,

t h e

t e r m

o f

t h i s

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U . S . C . 1 5 4 b ) b y 0

d a y s .

A p p l . N o . : 0 9 / 5 1 8 , 0 8 8

F i l e d :

Mar. 3 , 2000

R e l a t e d

US.

A p p l i c a t i o n

Data

C o n t i n u a t i o n - i n - p a r t o f

a p p l i c a t i o n N o . 0 9 / 3 1 5 , 8 5 2 , ? l e d o n

May 2 1 ,

1 9 9 9 ,

now P a t . N o . 6 , 0 5 4 , 7 8 5 .

Int.

Cl.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

H02K

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US.

Cl.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

310/40 MM; 10/83

Field of

Search

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310/40 MM, 75 R,

3 1 0 / 8 3 , 8 9 , 9 9 ; 2 2 1 / 8 1 ; 4 4 6 / 4 6 3 , 4 8 9 ; 7 4 / 4 2 5 ,

4 2 1 A , 6 0 6 R ; D 1 3 / 1 2 2

R e f e r e n c e s

C i t e d

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A 7 / 1 9 7 3

G a g n o n

4 4 6 / 4 2 5

3 , 7 7 2 , 8 2 5

A 1 1 / 1 9 7 3

G a g n o n

4 4 6 / 4 2 5

3,810,515

A

5/1974 Ingro

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*

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4 , 5 6 5 , 5 3 8

A 1 / 1 9 8 6

Kennedy e t a l . 4 4 6 / 4 2 7

4 , 7 5 4 , 8 3 0

A

7 / 1 9 8 8 M o r i s h i t a e t a l . 1 8 0 / 4 4 6

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McGoarty

e t

a l . 292/144

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t a l . . . . . . . . 446/463

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A

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Carlson

e t

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A

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A

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A

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5,747,903 A

5/1998

Klingler

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

310/75 R

5,791,514

A

*

8/1998 Kirk,

I I I e t

a l . . . . . . . .

2 2 1 /8 1

5,839,320

A

11/1998 Komachi . . . . . . . . . .

. .

74/421

A

6,028,384 A

2/2000 Billman e t

a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

310/83

FOREIGN

PATENT

DOCUMENTS

0

551 1 1 3

0

681 359

EP

EP

7 / 1 9 9 3

1 1 / 1 9 9 5

*

c i t e d

by examiner

P r i m a r y E x a m i n e r — J o s e p h

W a k s

7 4 ) A t t o r n e y ,

A g e n t , o r

F r m — O b l o n , S p i v a k ,

M c C l e l l a n d ,

M a i e r

e u s t a d t ,

PC.

5 7 )

ABSTRACT

Aminiaturized

motor

i n c l u d e s a DC

otor,

a Worm, a

pinion

g e a r , a

Worm

e a r ,

a t

l e a s t one c l u s t e r g e a r , an output

gear

and

a n

o u t p u t s h a f t . The g e a r s form a g e a r t r a i n e x t e n d i n g

from t h e DC motor

t o

t h e o u t p u t s h a f t . Aboss s t a b i l i z e s t h e

p i n i o n g e a r b y

e x t e n d i n g

d o W n W a r d l y f r o m

i n s i d e t h e

c o v e r .

A c o u s t i c a l

c h a m b e r s

p a c k e d

W i t h g r e a s e

s u p p r e s s

n o i s e

g e n e r a t e d

by

t h e

g e a r t r a i n . A

C b o a r d i s a l s o p r o v i d e d o n

t h e

c o v e r t o e n e r g i z e

t h e

DC

o t o r .

The o u t p u t s h a f t may

d r i v e e i t h e r a

product

mover

f o r

beverage

cans

i n s i d e a

v e n d i n g machine

o r

a n o t h e r t y p e o f el e c t r o m e c h a n i c a l

u n i t

r e q u i r i n g

t h e

a p p l i c a t i o n o f

h i g h t o r q u e i n a

s m a l l s p a c e . A

c r a d l e

bearing

i n s i d e

a

cover

holds a

hub

o f t h e Worm and

p r e v e n t s t h e

Worm

f r o m

b e n d i n g , t h u s a s s u r i n g a good mesh

o f

t h e

Worm

W i t h t h e p i n i o n g e a r .

A e s t

e n c a p s u l a t e s

t h e

Worm, t h e

p i n i o n g e a r

and

t h e Worm e a r

t o e n s u r e

p r o t e c

t i o n a n d s t r u c t u r a l i n t e g r i t y

o f

t h e m i n i a t u r i z e d m o t o r W i t h i n

t h e

s m a l l s p a c e .

9

C l a i m s , 4 Drawing

S h e e t s



18/32

U.S. P a t e n t 0a. 5 , 2 0 0 2 S h e e t 1 o f 4 U S 6 , 4 6 5 , 9 1 5 B1

_ ___ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __

_|

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

_

_ _ _

_

_

_



19/32


/

5 2

F [ G 2

6 8



20/32


21/32


P 6 6 5 5

I G 5 C

F I G ’A



22/32

US 6 , 4 6 5 , 9 1 5 B1

1

MINIATURIZED

MOTOR

CROSS REFERENCE TO

RELATED

APPLICATIONS

T h i s

a p p l i c a t i o n i s

a

c o n t i n u a t i o n - i n - p a r t o f

US.

U t i l i t y

p a t e n t

a p p l i c a t i o n

S e r .

N o . 0 9 / 3 1 5 , 8 5 2 , ? l e d

May

1 ,

1 9 9 9

now U S . P a t . No. 6 , 0 5 4 , 7 8 5 , a n d

i s

r e l a t e d t o U S . Design

p a t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n S e r . N o . 2 9 / 1 1 3 , 0 4 7 , ? l e d O c t . 2 9 ,

1 9 9 9 .

BACKGROUND

OF

THE

INVENTION

1 .

F i e l d

o f

t h e

I n v e n t i o n

T h i s

i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o machine

e l e m e n t s and

mecha

n i s m s

g e n e r a l l y , b u t more

p a r t i c u l a r l y

t o m i n i a t u r i Z e d

motors.

2 . D e s c r i p t i o n

o f

t h e

R e l a t e d

A r t

E x i s t i n g d e s i g n s f o r c a n n e d d r i n k v e n d i n g m a c h i n e

motors

t h a t o p e r a t e

a t

o r

above 100 inch-pounds a r e c h a r

a c t e r i Z e d b y h e a v y d u t y s h a d e d p o l e m o t o r s , Z i n c g e a r

b o x e s ,

a l l

m e t a l

g e a r s

W i t h

s l e e v e o r

n e e d l e

b e a r i n g s ,

a n d

o v e r s i Z e d i n s t a l l a t i o n e n v e l o p e s .

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e c o s t a n d W e i g h t f o r

s u c h d e s i g n s

a r e

among t h e h i g h e s t f o r s u b f r a c t i o n a l h o r s e p o W e r

g e a r

m o t o r s . F o r e x a m p l e ,

p r e s e n t d e s i g n s f o r

v e n d i n g m a c h i n e s

i n c l u d e a d d - o n b r a c k e t s

f o r c u s t o m m o u n t i n g .

M o r e o v e r , i t

i s g e n e r a l l y

knoWn t h a t

s h a d e d p o l e m o t o r s

a r e

among

t h e

most i n e f ? c i e n t t y p e s o f m o t o r s i n g e n e r a l u s e .

Exemplary

p r i o r a r t d e v i c e s a r e d i s c u s s e d b e l o W .

U S .

P a t .

N o .

5 , 4 4 6 , 3 2 6 i s s u e d t o S c h e i d e r on

Aug. 2 9 ,

1 9 9 5 ,

f o r a v e n d i n g m a c h i n e

g e a r

m o t o r

i n c l u d i n g

a

p l a s t i c

g e a r b o x . As shoWn

i n

F I G . 1

o f

h i s

U S . P a t e n t , t h e g e a r

motor o f

S c h e i d e r

c o m p r i s e s a g e a r box 1 1 h a v i n g a

gen

e r a l l y h o l l o W p l a s t i c

g e a r b o x h o u s i n g

1 2 , a

g e a r t r a i n 1 4

mounted

t h e r e i n ,

a n d a n

e l e c t r o n i c a l l y i n s u l a t i n g

c o v e r

1 3 .

U S .

P a t .

No.

5 , 2 5 6 , 9 2 1

i s s u e d

t o P r u i s e t a l . on O c t . 2 6 ,

1 9 9 3 ,

f o r a g e a r motor With a r o t a r y s W i t c h . The g e a r motor

h a s a n o u t p u t s h a f t f o r

d r i v i n g

a d i s p e n s i n g mechanism

o f

a

v e n d i n g

m a c h i n e . As

shoWn

i n F I G S . 2 a n d 3 o f t h e i r US.

P a t e n t ,

t h e

g e a r

motor

o f P r u i s e t a l .

i n c l u d e s

a n

e l e c t r i c

motor 12

mounted on

a

p r i n t e d c i r c u i t

board 13 and

a l s o

i n c l u d e s an o u t p u t

s h a f t

14

Which d r i v e s a

c o n v e n t i o n a l g e a r

r e d u c t i o n u n i t

1 6 .

U S .

P a t . No. 5 , 4 0 4 , 0 6 0

i s s u e d

t o Nakahashi

t a l .

on A p r .

4 , 1 9 9 5 , f o r a m i n i a t u r e

motor

With a

Worm

e d u c t i o n g e a r .

The m i n i a t u r e

motor

i n c l u d e s a

motor

s e c t i o n 1 Which

t r a n s m i t s

t o r q u e

generated

from

a

motor s h a f t

3 t o a

Worm

4 , t h e n t o

a h e l i c a l

g e a r

5 i n a

r e d u c t i o n g e a r s e c t i o n 2 ,

and

e v e n t u a l l y t o a n

o u t p u t

s h a f t 6 .

U S .

P a t .

No.

5 , 1 7 2 , 6 0 5

i s s u e d

t o SchWartZ

on

D e c . 2 2 ,

1 9 9 2 ,

a n d i s a s s i g n e d

t o

t h e

same

a s s i g n e e

a s

t h e p r e s e n t

i n v e n t i o n . SchWartZ d i s c l o s e s

a n

e l e c t r i c motor g e a r b o x f o r

a

v e n d i n g

m a c h i n e . The

g e a r b o x h a s f o u r

main

p a r t s :

a

h o u s i n g , a

m i n i m o t o r ,

a

p r i n t e d c i r c u i t

b o a r d ,

and a n assem

b l y

o f

p l a s t i c g e a r s .

V a r i o u s

o t h e r g e a r i n g m e c h a n i s m s r e l a t i n g t o

r e l a t i v e l y

s m a l l motors o f g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t a r e

d i s c l o s e d

i n U S . P a t .

N o . 5 , 7 4 7 , 9 0 3

i s s u e d t o

K l i n g l e r

on

May ,

1 9 9 8 a n d i n

US.

P a t . No. 5 , 7 3 4 , 2 1 0

i s s u e d

t o KeutZ

on

M a r .

3 1 ,

1 9 9 8 .

D e s p i t e t h e s e r e c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s , i t r e m a i n s

a

p r o b l e m

i n t h e p r i o r a r t t o d e v e l o p a

m i n i a t u r i Z e d

motor

W i t h h i g h

t o r q u e

f o r a

g e a r c a s e

Which

makes

e f f i c i e n t

u s e o f s p a c e

i n

a

vending

m a c h i n e .

10

1 5

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

2

c o m p a c t ,

t a k i n g

a d v a n t a g e o f a d i r e c t c u r r e n t DC) m o t o r

p o s i t i o n

W h i c h ,

i n

t h i s

p a r t i c u l a r c a s e , i s a d j a c e n t t o a

? r s t - s t a g e Worm.

T h i s a r r a n g e m e n t k e e p s a m i n i a t u r i Z e d m o t o r

compact

i n s i d e a gearbox Which makes e f f i c i e n t

use

o f

space i n

a

v e n d i n g m a c h i n e a n d

i n

a n y

o t h e r

u n i t

r e q u i r i n g

a n

a p p l i

c a t i o n

o f h i g h t o r q u e

i n a

s m a l l

s p a c e .

A

e a r t r a i n W i t h i n

a

g e a r box h a s s t a n d a r d a v a i l a b l e

g e a r s . HoWever,

t h e

t r a n s f e r

s t a g e

from

t h e

Worm

doWn t o

a p l u r a l i t y o f c l u s t e r

g e a r s

W i t h i n t h e g e a r box i s ? e x i b l y

a r r a n g e d f o r a v a r i e t y o f g e a r r a t i o s . T h i s ? e x i b i l i t y i s

i n t r o d u c e d b y

a d j u s t i n g

t h e g e a r

r a t i o

b e t W e e n t h e

? r s t - s t a g e

Worm i t h e i t h e r s i n g l e , double

o r q u a d r u p l e t h r e a d s and a n

a d j a c e n t p i n i o n g e a r .

A e t a l l i c

o u t p u t

s h a f t i s s u p p o r t e d d i r e c t l y

W i t h i n

t h e

g e a r b o x W i t h o u t i n t r o d u c i n g a d d i t i o n a l b e a r i n g s . The

l i f e

t i m e

o f

t h e

g e a r b o x

f o r d i r e c t l y

s u p p o r t i n g

t h e

o u t p u t

s h a f t

i s

v e r y

p r e d i c t a b l e .

T h u s , t h i s

n o v e l a r r a n g e m e n t r e d u c e s

c o s t s o v e r t h e l i f e t i m e o f t h e

g e a r

box q u i t e

n o t i c e a b l y .

A umber o f f e a t u r e s

s u p p o r t

q u i e t o p e r a t i o n

i n a d d i t i o n

t o t h e

? r s t - s t a g e

Worm. The

g e a r

box

h a s c l o s e e n v e l o p e

c o n t o u r s t o r e t a i n g r e a s e i n t h e g e a r t r a i n . T h i s c l o s e

e n v e l o p e a l s o

a i d s q u i e t

o p e r a t i o n . A p l u r a l i t y o f a c o u s t i c a l

c h a m b e r s

s u r r o u n d

t h e

g e a r t r a i n

a n d i n s u l a t e

a g a i n s t

n o i s e

t r a n s f e r .

U n i q u e

t o

t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n

i s

t h e

p i n i o n g e a r

t h a t i s

s u p p o r t e d

by e i t h e r a b o s s o r a s t e e l p i n .

C o n s e q u e n t l y ,

t h e

i n v e n t i o n p r o v i d e s

a more

s t a b l e

g e a r

mesh

o p e r a t i o n . A l s o ,

a

cover s u p p o r t s

t h e

boss

f o r t h e p i n i o n g e a r a t one e n d .

The r a t i n g o f t h e g e a r motor can have a d i r e c t c u r r e n t

D C ) v o l t a g e

o f e i t h e r 1 2 , 2 4 ,

3 6

o r

4 8 v o l t s . F u r t h e r m o r e ,

a p r i n t e d

c i r c u i t

P C ) b o a r d i s mounted

on t h e g e a r b o x .

A

p l a s t i c

c o v e r p r o v i d e s

a

m o u n t i n g

p o s t

t o

s u p p o r t

t h e

P C

b o a r d .

M a t e r i a l s

f o r

both

t h e

g e a r box

and t h e

cover a r e a c r y

l o n i t r i l e

b u t a d i n e n e

s t y r e n e

ABS)

c o p o l y m e r s o r

o t h e r

e n g i n e e r i n g

p l a s t i c s

W i t h

o r W i t h o u t r e i n f o rc e m e n t i n

t h e

m a t r i x . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , m e t a l s may b e

u s e d .

H o W e v e r , t h e y

a r e n o t

p r e f e r r e d

b e c a u s e o f

t h e i r

W e i g h t .

Gears

a r e made o f

d e l r i n ,

n y l o n o r o t h e r e n g i n e e r i n g p l a s t i c s .

U p p e r s t a g e g e a r s

a r e

formed from poWdere d m e t a l o r

?ne

m e t a l l i c b l a n k s.

T h u s , t h e o u t p u t s h a f t

a n d

o t h e r e l e m e n t s

f o r

t r a n s m i t t i n g

t o r q u e a r e f a b r i c a t e d o u t o f e i t h e r poWdered

m e t a l

o r m e t a l

l i c b l a n k s .

G r e a s e i s s e l e c t e d f r o m t h e h i g h

p e r f o r m a n c e

s y n t h e t i c

g r e a s e s W i t h

a t o l e r a n c e f o r

b o t h h i g h a n d

loW

t e m p e r a t u r e s .

The

p o l y - a l p h a - o l e ? n s

h a v e

been

f o u n d

t o

b e

most

s a t i s f a c

t o r y

i n

t h i s

r e g a r d .

A

k e y

a d v a n t a g e

o f t h e

p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n

i s

t h a t

n o

a n t i - b a c k - d r i v e b r a k e i s n e c e s s a r y

because

o f

t h e u s e o f t h e

? r s t - s t a g e

Worm

Which t y p i c a l l y

c a n n o t b e back

d r i v e n .

T h u s ,

i t i s a p r i m a r y

o b j e c t

o f t h e p r e s e n t

i n v e n t i o n t o

p r o v i d e a v e n d i n g machine

W i t h

m i n i a t u r i Z e d

m o t o r s t h a t

a r e c o m p a c t , h a v e

n o i s e c o n t r o l

f e a t u r e s , h a v e

h i g h e r e f ?

c i e n c i e s When compared

t o

p r i o r a r t

d e v i c e s ,

a n d

a r e

i n e x

p e n s i v e t o c o n s t r u c t .

A

e c o n d a r y o b j e c t o f

t h e

p r e s e n t

i n v e n t i o n i s

t o p r o v i d e

a

m i n i a t u r i Z e d motor

f o r custom mounting

t o

a vending

m a c h i n e by d i r e c t f o o t

m o u n t s .

BRIE F

DESCRIPTION OF

THE DRAWINGS

A ore

c o m p l e t e

a p p r e c i a t i o n o f

t h e i n v e n t i o n a n d many

o f

i t s

a t t e n d a n t

a d v a n t a g e s W i l l b e r e a d i l y

o b t a i n e d

a s t h e



23/32

US 6 , 4 6 5 , 9 1 5 B1

3

F I G . 1 i s a t o p p l a n

vieW o f

a m i n i a t u r i z e d motor o f

t h e

p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n

With a g e a r

t r a i n

removed from i n s i d e a

g e a r b o x .

FIG. 2 i s a r i g h t

s i d e

e l e v a t i o n a l

vieW o f

a DC motor

a t t a c h e d

t o t h e g e a r t r a i n

i n s i d e

t h e g e a r b o x .

FIG. 3

i s

a

p e r s p e c t i v e

vieW

o f

an

u n d e r s i d e o f

a

t o p

cover

that

nests

over a Worm.

F I G .

4

i s

a

p e r s p e c t i v e vieW

o f a

r i g h t

comer o f

t h e

g e a r

box

i n

Which t h e

Worm

s s e t .

FIG.

5A

s

a r e a r

end

vieW o f t h e DC o t o r , a s seen along

l i n e

5A—5A f

F I G . 5 B .

F I G .

5B s a t o p p l a n

vieW

o f t h e

DC

motor

and

t h e

Worm

a t t a c h e d t h e r e t o .

F I G . 5 C s a n

o p p o s i t e

end

vieW o f t h e

Worm

and t h e

DC

motor

a t t ac h e d t h e r e b e h i n d , a s s e e n a l o n g l i n e 5C—5C f

F I G . 5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF

THE

INVENTION

R e f e r r i n g

noW

t o

t h e

d r a W i n g s , l i k e r e f e r e n c e n u m e r a l s

d e s i g n a t e i d e n t i c a l

o r

c o r r e s p o n d i n g

p a r t s

t h r o u g h o u t t h e

s e v e r a l

v i e W s . F e a t u r e s o f

t h e

i n v e n t i o n

W i l l

become

a p p a r

e n t i n t h e c o u r s e

o f

t h e f o l l o W i n g d e s c r i p t i o n

o f

t h e

p r e f e r r e d

embodiment

W h i c h

i s

g i v e n o n l y f o r i l l u s t r a t i o n o f

t h e

i n v e n t i o n

and Which i s n o t

i n t e n d e d

t o l i m i t

i t s

s c o p e .

I n

F I G .

1 ,

a n i n t e r n a l

permanent magnet

1 2 p r o d u c e s a n

e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c

? e l d n e c e s s a r y f o r

o p e r a t i n g

a

DC

otor 10

t h a t

i s

a t t a c h e d t h r o u g h an e x t e r n a l

W a l l

16

t o

a

g e a r

t r a i n

i n s i d e a

g e a r

box 1 4 .

A p l u r a l i t y o f

s h o r t

p o s t s 1 8

i n t e r l o c k

t h e

g e a r

box 1 4 t o a c o v e r n o t

shoWn

n F I G . 1 ) . E l e c t r i c i t y

i s p r o v i d e d from a n e x t e r n a l

poWer

s o u r c e a l s o n o t shoWn

i n F I G .

1 )

t h r o u g h

a

p o s i t i v e t e r m i n a l 2 0 t o t h e p e r m a n e n t

m a g n e t

1 2 .

A

e g a t i v e t e r m i n a l

2 2

i s

?xed

o p p o s i t e

t o

t h e

p o s i t i v e

t e r m i n a l 2 0 on t h e DC

motor 1 0 . The permanent

magnet 2 0 i s e n e r g i Z e d i n s i d e t h e DC motor 10 t o t u r n a

r o t a r y s h a f t hub

2 4

on Which

a

? r s t - s t a g e Worm 2 6

i s

m o u n t e d . R e v e r s i n g

t h e d i r e c t i o n o f r o t a t i o n o f t h e r o t a r y

s h a f t hub

2 4

and

t h e

? r s t - s t a g e

Worm

26 can

be accom

p l i s h e d b y r e v e r s i n g p o l a r i t i e s o f t h e D C o l t a g e a p p l i e d

t o

t h e

t e r m i n a l s

20

a n d

2 2 . A u p p o r t p l a t e 30 h o l d s t h e DC

motor 10

and

t h e Worm 2 6 t o g e t h e r on t h e r o t a r y s h a f t hub

2 4 .

S i d e g u i d e s 3 2

s u r r o u n d

p e r i p h e r a l

e d g e s

o f

t h e

s u p p o r t

p l a t e 30 s o t h a t t h e DC motor 10

and

t h e Worm 6 may s l i d e

t o g e t h e r i n t o

a n d

o u t o f

engagement W i t h t h e

e x t e r n a l W a l l

16

o f

t h e

g e a r

box 1 4 . The DC motor 10 and t h e Worm 2 6

s l i d e

t o g e t h e r

W i t h

t h e s u p p o r t

p l a t e 30 i n a

p l a n e

p e r p e n

d i c u l a r

t o

t h e

p a p e r

on

Which

F I G .

1

i s

i l l u s t r a t e d .

Although

t h e DC

motor 10 and

t h e

Worm

2 6 a r e shoWn

i n t h e i r

p r e f e r r e d

o r i e n t a t i o n i n s o l i d l i n e s , t h e y may l s o

b e

r o t a t e d

9 0 °

e i t h e r t o

t h e r i g h t

o r t o

t h e

l e f t ,

a s s e e n i n

phantom i n e s .

T e e t h 36

on t h e Worm

2 6 mesh With

t e e t h

o f

a p i n i o n g e a r

n o t shoWn

n

F I G . 1 ) Which s mounted on a

p i n i o n

s h a f t

3 4 .

The Worm 2 6

can

b e

e i t h e r

s i n g l e , d o u b l e o r q u a d r u p l e

t h r e a d e d .

A l t e r n a t i v e l y ,

t h e Worm 26 c a n b e h e l i c a l l y

t h r e a d e d . The

meshing

o f

t h e v a r i o u s

g e a r s

o f t h e g e a r t r a i n

W i l l b e d e s c r i b e d W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o F I G .

2 .

HoWever,

f o r

t h e

s a k e

o f

s p a t i a l o r i e n t a t i o n , t h e r e a r e

shoWn

i n F I G . 1 t h e

f o l l o W i n g :

p r i m a r y c l u s t e r g e a r

s h a f t

4 0 , s e c o n d a r y c l u s t e r

g e a r

s h a f t 5 0 a n d

o u t p u t

s h a f t 6 0 . B o s s e s 38 s t r e n g t h e n t h e

g e a r

box

14

Where t h e r e a r e

b o r e s

t h r o u g h Which t h e s h a f t s

3 4 , 4 0 ,

5 0 a n d 6 0

p a s s .

B e c a u s e

t h e

s h a f t s

3 4 , 4 0 ,

5 0 a n d 6 0

a r e

a l l made

o f m e t a l , r e i n f o r c i n g r i b s

4 2

r a d i a t e

o u t W a r d l y

from e a c h

b o s s

3 8 t o

s t r e n g t h e n

t h e

g e a r

box 1 4 f u r t h e r

10

1 5

25

35

45

55

4

s h a f t

3 4 W i t h

i t s

s u r r o u n d i n g b o s s 3 8

a n d i t s s i n g l e r a d i a t i n g

r i b

4 2 A a r e p o s i t i o n e d a t a 4 5 °

a n g l e

from a r i g h t

h o r i Z o n t a l

r i b 42B r a d i a t i n g

f r o m

t h e s h a f t 4 0 .

The

s h a f t 3 4 , t h e

b o s s

38

a n d

t h e

r i b 42A a r e k e p t i n

t h e

p o s i t i o n s

shoWn

i n

s o l i d

l i n e s

f o r a second

embodiment

i n

Which t h e DC

motor 10

a n d

t h e

Worm

2 6

b o t h

shoWn

i n

phantom

l i n e s

on

t h e

r i g h t

s i d e o f

FIG.

1 )

a r e r o t a t e d

9 0 ° c o u n t er c l o c k W i s e t o

form

a n

L

s h a p e

W i t h

t h e g e a r box 1 4 . HoWever, i f t h e

DC

o t o r

1 0

a n d t h e Worm 26 b o t h

shoWn

i n phantom

l i n e s

on t h e l e f t

s i d e o f

FIG.

1 ) a r e r o t a t e d 9 0 ° c l o c k W i s e t o form a r e v e r s e d

L s h a p e W i t h

t h e

g e a r box 1 4 , t h e n

t h e

s h a f t 3 4 , i t s s u r

r o u n d i n g b o s s

3 8

a n d

t h e s i n g l e r a d i a t i n g

r i b

42A a r e

l i k e W i s e r o t a t e d

9 0 °

s o t h a t t h e y form a

4 5 °

a n g l e

W i t h

a

l e f t

h o r i Z o n t a l

r i b 42C

r a d i a t i n g f r o m t h e s h a f t

4 0 .

A p l u r a l i t y o f

extended c o r n e r f e e t 68 a l l o W s

t h e

g e a r box 14 t o be custom

mounted t o a d e v i c e b e i n g o p e r a t e d ,

e .

g . a vending

m a c h i n e .

F u r t h e r m o r e , a n y n o i s e g e n e r a t e d

b y

t h e g e a r t r a i n

i s

s u p

p r e s s e d

b y g r e a s e

p a c k e d i n s i d e a p l u r a l i t y

o f a c o u s t i c a l

chambers 80 Which

a r e

formed a l o n g s i d e

W a l l s o f

t h e g e a r

box

1 4 .

F I G .

2 i s

a p a r t i a l l y c u t

aWay

e l e v a t i o n a l vieW

t a k e n

a l o n g

t h e

r i g h t

s i d e

o f F I G . 1 . The

DC

o t o r 1 0 a n d i t s p e r m a n e n t

magnet

12 a r e

s e e n a t t h e

l e f t

s i d e

o f

F I G .

2 . The n e g a t i v e

t e r m i n a l

22 i s shoWn

i n

phantom l i n e s a n d h a s a

c l i p

4 4

a t t a c h e d t h e r e o v e r .

The

c l i p 44 i s connected t o a n end o f a

poWer l i n e 46 Which extends from an e x t e r n a l poWer s o u r c e

4 8

f o r

e i t h e r

d i r e c t c u r r e n t DC) o r r e c t i ? e d

a l t e r n a t i n g

c u r r e n t AC)

W i t h

o r

W i t h o u t

? l t e r i n g .

The

f o o t 6 8

i s o n e

o f

f o u r extended

c o r n e r

f e e t Which a l l o W t h e

g e a r box

14

t o

b e

c u s t o m

mounted t o a

v e n d i n g m a c h i n e

b e i n g o p e r a t e d . At

t h e r i g h t s i d e

o f

t h e DC

o t o r

1 0 , t h e r o t a r y

s h a f t h u b 24

p a s s e s t h r o u g h

t h e

s u p p o r t p l a t e 3 0 W h i c h

i s

h e l d i n p l a c e b y

t h e s i d e g u i d e s 3 2 . The t e e t h 36 o f t h e Worm 26 d r i v e a n

u p p e r

p i n i o n g e a r

33 Which

i s

mounted

o n

t h e

p i n i o n

s h a f t

34

and Which i s

formed i n t e g r a l l y

W i t h

a

loWer Worm

e a r

3 5 . T e e t h

o f t h i s

Worm g e a r

35

mesh With

t e e t h

o f a n

a d j a c e n t p r i m a r y

c l u s t e r

g e a r

39

Which i s mounted

on

t h e

g e a r

s h a f t

4 0 .

The Worm 2 6 ,

t h e p i n i o n g e a r 3 3, t h e

Worm

g e a r

35 a n d t h e

p r i m a r y c l u s t e r g e a r

39

a r e

a l l

made o f h a r d

p l a s t i c . A m a l l m e t a l l i c g e a r 4 1

s i t s

o n t o p o f

t h e

p r i m a r y

c l u s t e r g e a r 39 a n d i s p r e s s ? t t e d i n t o t h e c e n t e r o f t h e p l a s t i c

g e a r 39 s o t h a t b o t h g e a r s 39

and

41 r o t a t e t o g e t h e r on t h e

s h a f t 4 0 . T h i s s h a f t

40

s

p r e s s ? t t e d a t

b o t h

e n d s i n t o c e n t e r s

o f

i t s s u r r ou n d i n g b o s s e s 38 a n d

d o e s

n o t r o t a t e i t s e l f .

The

s m a l l

g e a r 4 1

d r i v e s a l a r g e a d j a c e n t u p p e r

s e c o n d a r y

c l u s t e r

g e a r 49

Which

r o t a t e s on

t h e

s h a f t

5 0 .

BeloW

t h e

g e a r 4 9 ,

t h e r e i s

a s m a l l l o W e r t e r t i a r y

c l u s t e r

g e a r

5 1 a l s o mounted

f o r

r o t a t i o n

o n

t h e s h a f t 5 0 .

T h u s ,

t h e g e a r s 3 9 , 4 1 ,

4 9 a n d

51 c o n s t i t u t e a p l u r a l i t y

o f

i n t e r m e d i a t e c l u s t e r g e a r s .

Above

t h e

p l u r a l i t y

o f

c l u s t e r

g e a r s , t h e r e i s

a s o l i d

p l a s t i c p o s t

5 2

molded i n t e g r a l l y W i t h t h e g e a r box 1 4 f o r s u p p o r t i n g a

p r i n t e d

c i r c u i t

P C ) b o a r d 5 4 W h i c h e n e r g i Z e s t h e DC o t o r

1 0 .

T e e t h on t h e t e r t i a r y

c l u s t e r g e a r

51

mesh

W i t h t e e t h on

a n o u t p u t g e a r 59 t o r o t a t e t h e o u t p u t

s h a f t

6 0 .

The

g e a r s

4 1 ,

4 9 ,

5 1

a n d

5 9 a r e a l l

made o f s i n t e r e d m e t a l

p o W d e r .

T h u s ,

t h e g e a r s i n s i d e t h e

g e a r

box

1 4 c h a n g e

i n

c o m p o s i t i o n f r o m

p l a s t i c a t t h e b e g i n n i n g W i t h t h e Worm 26 o

m e t a l

a t t h e end

W i t h t h e

o u t p u t

g e a r 5 9 . T h i s

t r a n s i t i o n

a l l o W s s m a l l

p l a s t i c

g e a r s a t t h e

i n i t i a t i o n

o f t h e d r i v e

s e q u e n c e t o

t u r n l a r g e

m e t a l l i c g e a r s a t

t h e

o u t p u t s t a g e . The o u t p u t

s h a f t

6 0 d r i v e s

e i t h e r a p r o d u c t mover

n o t

s h o W n ) f o r

c a n n e d

b e v e r a g e s

i n s i d e

a

vending

machine

o r

any

o t h e r

e l e c t r o m e c h a n i c a l

u n i t r e q u i r i n g t h e a p p l i c a t i o n

o f

h i g h

t o r q u e i n a

s m a l l s p a c e .

I n F I G . 3 ,

a

c o v e r 2 8

f o r

t h e g e a r box

14

i l l u s t ra t e d i n



24/32


25/32

UNITED

STATES

PATENT

AND TRADEMARK F F I CE

CERTIFICATE

OF

CORRECTION

PATENT NO.

6 , 4 6 5 , 9 1 5

B1 P a g e 1

o f

1

DATED O c t o b e r 1 5 ,

2002

INVENTOR S) Mohamed K e r d j o u d j e t a l .

I t

i s c e r t i f i e d t h a t

e r r o r appears i n

t h e a b o v e - i d e n t i ? e d p a t e n t and

t h a t s a i d L e t t e r s

P a t e n t

i s

h e r e b y

c o r r e c t e d

a s

shown b e l o w :

T i t l e p a g e ,

I t e m [ 5 7 ] ,

ABSTRACT,

L i n e

6 , d e l e t e “ p a c k e d W i t h g r e a s e ” .

Column 1

L i n e s 6 a n d 8 , c h a n g e “ p a t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n ” t o

- -

P a t e n t A p p l i c a t i o n

Column

2

L i n e 5 , c h a n g e “ g e a r b o x ” t o - - t i g h t volume

Column 3

Line 8 , change “comer” t o - - corner

Column

4

L i n e

1 8 , d e l e t e “ g r e a s e

p a c k e d

i n s i d e ” .

S i g n e d a n d

S e a l e d

t h i s

T w e n t y - f i r s t Day o f J a n u a r y , 2 0 0 3

JAMES

.

ROGAN

D i r e c t o r

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s P a t e n t

and Trademark

? ‘ i c e



26/32

EXHIBIT B



27/32



28/32



29/32



30/32


31/32



32/32


molon motor & coil v. merkle-korff - complaint

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