Patents Assigned to Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20100202861
    Abstract: A transfer system includes: a first shelf disposed to block an original transfer path from a transfer position at which the transporting vehicle transfers the transported object to the port and can transfer the transported object with the transporting vehicle; a second shelf which puts the transported object; a displacing device can reciprocate the transported object with respect to the first shelf and the port in a first direction, toward and away from the processing apparatus, and which can reciprocate the transported object at first direction position, which is away in the first direction by the transported object from the first shelf and the port, in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a communicating device which receives a transfer request from the transporting vehicle, which can transmit a transfer permission to the transporting vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: MURATEC AUTOMATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Sawado, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Masanao Murata, Takashi Yamaji, Naofumi Kirihata
  • Patent number: 7771151
    Abstract: The present invention generally comprises a tool load device for transferring a container between a container transport system and a processing tool. The tool load device may service a single load port or multiple load ports. Regardless, the tool load device is preferably located between the load port of the processing tool and the section of the container transport system passing the processing tool. The tool load device provides an improved method of moving containers between a conventional load port and, for example, a conveyor. In another embodiment, the tool load device is coupled with an x-drive assembly that moves the tool load device along a path that is substantially parallel to the container transport system passing in front of the load port—allowing the tool load device to service multiple load ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony C. Bonora, Michael Krolak, Roger G. Hine
  • Patent number: 7765936
    Abstract: A transporting system with a fire door (100) is provided with: a rail (1) installed within a facility; a transporting carriage (3), whose wheel (4) is set so as to roll over a surface for rolling of the rail; a fire door plate (7) for segmenting a space within the facility in a direction intersecting the rail at a predetermined position of the rail; and a door plate moving device (8) capable of moving the fire door plate from an open position for the transporting carriage to pass through the predetermined position, to a close position for the fire door plate to segment the space. A first cut (1a) is formed obliquely with respect to a width direction of the rail when planarly seen on the surface for rolling, in the rail at the predetermined position. The fire door plate has a shape capable of passing through the first cut when being moved to the close position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Murata, Senzou Kyutoku, Toshio Takasu
  • Patent number: 7762754
    Abstract: A storage apparatus (1) stores a transported object (220) from a transporting carriage (110), which travels along a track (120) installed on or near a ceiling (210) while gripping the transported object. The storage apparatus is provided with a rack portion (30), on which the transported object is put; and a support member (10), whose upper end is supported by the track or ceiling and whose lower end supports the rack portion. The support member selectively has one of first and second shapes. The first shape allows the transporting carriage to put the transported object onto the rack portion at the predetermined position. The second shape allows the rack portion to move away from a position below the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Maetaki
  • Publication number: 20100143084
    Abstract: A transporting carrier for transporting a transported object and for transferring it to a bringing-in/bringing-out part, which projects from a station and which brings in or out the transported object to or from the station or for transferring the transported object from the bringing-in/bringing-out part, the transporting carrier comprising: a main body part which has loading and accommodating parts and a lateral opening, the loading part being a space to load the transported object, the accommodating part being located under the loading part, the accommodating part being a space to accommodate the bringing-in/bringing-out part such that the bringing-in/bringing-out part is at least partially surrounded from lateral sides; a traveling device on the main body part; and a transferring device above the loading part of the main body part, for transferring the transported object between the loading part and the bringing-in/bringing-out part, with the bringing-in/bringing-out part in the accommodating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: MURATEC AUTOMATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanao MURATA, Takashi Yamaji
  • Publication number: 20100117391
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus is provided with a main body part which defines an inner space and an opening in which the inner space is open to an external space and which can accommodate a load from the external space to the inner space through the opening; a holding device which is disposed at a position facing or in contact with the inner space of the main body part and which can hold the accommodated load within the inner space; and one or a plurality of grips which are disposed at positions facing or in contact with the external space of the main body part and which can be grabbed from the external space side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: MURATEC AUTOMATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MASANAO MURATA, TAKASHI YAMAJI
  • Patent number: 7686176
    Abstract: A suspended type transporting carriage (16) is provided with: a gripping mechanism (22) for gripping a transported object (17); a hoisting mechanism (21) for hoisting the gripping mechanism; and a traveling mechanism (60), on which the hoisting mechanism is mounted in a suspended condition, for traveling on a rail (20) installed on or near a ceiling. The gripping mechanism is provided with (i) an elongating and contracting device (23) capable of horizontally elongating and contracting and (ii) a gripping device (24) disposed at a tip portion of the elongating and contracting device for selectively gripping the transported object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanao Murata
  • Patent number: 7669533
    Abstract: The connection guide for a rail transport apparatus is provided with a first direction control guide and a second direction control guide such that when the transport vehicle travels in a forward direction, after the guiding operation of the first direction control guide is released the transport vehicle is guided by the second direction control guide, wherein a forward shift guide abuts a guide roller of the transport vehicle during the shift operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Senzo Kyutoku
  • Patent number: 7661919
    Abstract: The present invention generally comprises a transport system for transporting containers throughout a fabrication facility, and more specifically through a tool bay in the fabrication facility. The present invention generally includes a first container transport system for transporting a container from an interbay conveyor towards the first tool bay, a second container transport system for moving a container away from the first tool bay and a tool loading device to move containers between the first and second container transport systems and a load port. A merged return conveyor for transporting a container between the second container transport system and the interbay conveyor may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony C. Bonora, Ted Rogers
  • Patent number: 7651307
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a container transport and loading system. The system generally comprises a load port for presenting articles to a tool and a container transport system. In one embodiment, the load port includes a vertically movable FOUP advance plate assembly that is adapted to load and unload a FOUP from a conveyor that passes by the load port and move the FOUP horizontally. In another embodiment, the load port includes a vertically movable support structure that is adapted to load and unload a container from a shuttle that passes by the load port. The various embodiments of the load port and container transport system are improvements over conventional container transport systems. The present invention also includes a shuttle for simultaneously transporting multiple containers that a load port may load or unload a container from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony C. Bonora, Michael Krolak, Roger G. Hine
  • Patent number: 7637380
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus is provided with: a transporting device (120) having: a loading device (220) which can elongate in an elongation direction toward a side of the track portion; and an elongation mechanism (600) for elongating the loading device. The elongation mechanism is provided with: a first rack (510) fixed to the main body device (210) and a second rack (520) fixed to the loading device, the first rack and the second rack each extending in the elongation direction and facing each other with a space therebetween; and a first pinion (610) engaged with the first rack, a second pinion (620) engaged with the second rack, and an odd number of third pinions (630) engaged between the first and second pinions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriyasu Fukaya