Patents Examined by Ashley Romano
  • Patent number: 9248771
    Abstract: A number of variations of the invention may include a vehicle having a doorframe gantry lift system for raising and lowering a cargo module in the doorframe. A number of variations of the invention may include a cargo module having at least a first lift structure constructed and arranged to mate with a first lift structure of a vehicle doorframe gantry lift system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Chet R. Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 9221603
    Abstract: A rack includes: a rack main body including a storage space configured to store a plurality of plate-shaped members and a carry-in opening; a plurality of upper supporting portions configured to respectively support upper edge portions of the plurality of plate-shaped members; lower supporting portions respectively provided under the plurality of upper supporting portions and configured to respectively support lower edge portions of the plurality of standing plate-shaped members; and lower edge portion storage portions provided to be each located at an outer side of an end of the upper supporting portion and an end of the lower supporting portion in the arrangement direction and configured to store the lower edge portions of the plate-shaped members, and at least one of the upper supporting portions is configured to be able to support the upper edge portion of the plate-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Hashimoto, Shigeki Ono, Kenji Bando
  • Patent number: 9181048
    Abstract: A mobile transport and storage system, comprising at least a storage container and a hand-controlled lifting wheel assembly is described. The storage container includes a substantially rectangular base and frame constructed with a rear wall, opposing side walls, a front wall, a roof and a floor having an underside, wherein one of the rear wall, front wall or opposing side walls include an opening, and two slides (longsills) defined in, or disposed on, the underside of the floor, wherein the two slides are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the slides extend lengthwise in a direction extending from the front wall to the rear wall. The lifting wheel assembly includes a handle connected to a rectangular shaped base unit which serves as the body of the assembly. Included on the handle is a switch for activating the raising and lowering mechanism of the assembly unit, and a warning or caution beacon with an activation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Rosemyr Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Rash
  • Patent number: 9177844
    Abstract: A process-line-to-process-line transport apparatus transports a transport subject between corresponding two of process lines. A first transport vehicle transports the transport subject in a first process line, and a second transport vehicle transports the transport subject in a second process line. A relay stocking apparatus is placed in a corresponding location, at which the relay stocking apparatus receives the transport subject from one of the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle and passes the received transport subject to the other one of the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuroyanagi, Toshihiro Okumura, Keisuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9171748
    Abstract: A cassette adapter which makes it possible for a second cassette which accommodates a circular wafer of a diameter of 200 mm to be used on a load port ready for a first cassette which accommodates a different circular wafer of another diameter of 300 mm is locked to the load port by an adapter main body locking apparatus. The locking apparatus includes a locking air cylinder serving as a locking member for locking the first cassette to a carrier base of the load port, and a locking target member provided integrally on a rear face of an adapter plate of the cassette adapter for disengageably engaging with a locking pawl at an end of a rod of the air cylinder. A seating sensor mechanism detects that the second cassette is seated at a correct position on the adapter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SINFONIA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaichi Hatano, Shogo Saito
  • Patent number: 9165810
    Abstract: A conveyance device, which conveys wafers in a casing 30, includes a primary blowing fan 17 that generates airflow within the casing 30 in a first direction; a discharge opening 26 that is located at a downstream side of the airflow generated by the primary blowing fan 17, is interconnected with the interior of the casing 30, and discharges gases at the interior of the casing 30 outside of the casing 30; a base 18d that is supported by a gate-shaped conveyance arm 22 disposed within the casing 30 and moves within the casing 30 at the upstream side of the discharge opening 26 and at the downstream side of the primary blowing fan 17; an end effector 21 that is located at the base 18d and that carries wafers; and a blowing fan 19 that is located at the base and that generates airflow in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hiroki, Ikuo Sawada, Kazuyoshi Matsuzaki, Yoshiki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 9165811
    Abstract: An automated warehouse includes an apparatus main body a transfer device. The apparatus main body includes a plurality of stationary shelves arranged horizontally and vertically, and having upper surfaces on which cassettes can be placed. The transfer device transfers the cassette by holding a flange of the cassette. The transfer device includes a vertical rail and a transfer head. The vertical rail includes an upper end adjacent to a supporting surface of a top stationary shelf. The transfer head is a member vertically movable along the vertical rail. The transfer head includes a vertical arm having a length such that the vertical arm can hold the flange of the cassette placed on the top stationary shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Ito
  • Patent number: 9163878
    Abstract: A device and method for transporting blanks is provided. The blanks are made from an initially plastic, subsequently dried and finally fired material. A transport tray transports the blanks through both a dryer and a kiln. The blanks can be stacked on a drying trolley or a firing trolley. A first transfer device transfers the blanks onto the drying trolley when the blanks are stacked on the transport tray and are plastic. The drying trolley transports the blanks and the transport tray in the dryer for drying the blanks. A second transfer device transfers the blanks and the transport tray onto the firing trolley after the blanks have been dried. The firing trolley transports the blanks and the transport tray in the kiln for firing the blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HANS LINGL ANLAGENBAU UND VERFAHRENSTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Simon, Franz Simmnacher, Frank Appel
  • Patent number: 9156624
    Abstract: An agricultural device for controlled unloading of grain including an unloader conveyor including an enclosed housing having an inlet end including an opening for receiving grain, and an opposite outlet end including a discharge opening through which the grain can be discharged. An unloader conveyor element extends through the housing between the ends and operable for conveying the grain through the housing from the inlet end and discharging the grain through the discharge opening. The unloader conveyor element includes a substantially vertical unloader conveyor segment connected to a substantially horizontal unloader conveyor segment. An unloader drive selectably operates a portion of the conveyor element associated with the substantially vertical unloader conveyor segment in a disengaged mode in response to a sensed cumulative loading condition of the substantially vertical unloader conveyor segment and the substantially horizontal unloader conveyor segment exceeding a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Herbert M. Farley, Kevin W. Ward
  • Patent number: 9153467
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a control unit performing loading substrates into a second unit block when a trouble occurs in a module of a first unit block; determining whether it is before a leading substrate of a next lot of the lot where a standby substrate positioned in upper stream side than the troubled module belongs is loaded into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block; loading the standby substrate into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block when determined it is before the loading of the leading substrate and loading the standby substrate into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block after a rearmost substrate of the next lot is loaded into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block when determined otherwise; and performing a series of processing on the standby substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenichirou Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9137945
    Abstract: A method of controlling a conveyance rate of grain of an unloader system, including providing a grain holding device and an unloader in communication with the grain holding device, the unloader having an inlet for receiving grain from the grain holding device and an outlet for discharging grain. An apparatus within the grain holding device is operable for controllably feeding grain within the grain holding device to the unloader. The method includes monitoring a parameter associated with a power source of the apparatus, and comparing the parameter of the power source to a maximum predetermined threshold value. The method includes automatically controlling the conveyance rate of grain of the apparatus to the unloader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Herbert M. Farley, Karl R. Linde, Cooper W. Linde, Kevin W. Ward, James A. Hitch, Wayne T. Flickinger
  • Patent number: 9139406
    Abstract: A handling device intended to grasp and to carry a pack (k) formed by a stack of tires maintained in compression by a continuous, substantially airtight band covering the entire surface of the pack (k) and wound under tension around the pack (k) so as to constitute a unit of which the vertical faces are generally devoid of roughness and which can be grasped by the handling device, comprising an inclinable carriage (2) extended by at least two feet (21, 22) oriented toward the front of the inclinable carriage (2) and secured to the carriage (2), at the end of which feet is arranged an articulation of horizontal axis (BB?) allowing the inclination of the carriage (2) from a substantially vertical position to an inclination forming a given angle (?) with the vertical direction, wherein the carriage (2) comprises a plurality of suction cups (20) intended to apply a vertical face of the pack of tires (k) against the front face of the inclinable carriage (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Etienne Rolland, Philippe Petrault, Bernard Defudes, Serge Lapierre, Sylvain Soboul, Damien Loussouarn
  • Patent number: 9132763
    Abstract: An loading and unloading system is described that allows a load to be loaded and unloaded to and from the bed of a vehicle on which the loading and unloading system is mounted. The loading and unloading system is affixed to a vehicle bed and includes an enclosure providing structural support for the lifting mechanism and shelter for cargo security and protection. The lifting mechanism, in conjunction with the enclosure structure, loads or unloads cargo that is secured to a lifting platform using vertical linear motion as well as horizontal linear motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventor: Garry Alexander Gowans
  • Patent number: 9126811
    Abstract: A method (400) for handling a container is disclosed. It can include the steps of: providing (410) a multi-level structure (450) including a plurality of levels (470) including a first level (472) with an opening (474) to receive a container (476) and a second level (478); locating (420) a plurality of shelves (480) adjacent to the opening (474) including a port shelf (482) and a starboard shelf (484), each configured to receive a container (476); and providing (430) a transfer mechanism (530) configured to pick a container (176) and place it on one of the plurality of shelves (480). Advantageously, the method (400) provides enhanced container handling and logistics, and has wide use cases in warehousing, assembly manufacturing, ports and distribution hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventors: John J. Lanigan, Sr., John J. Lanigan, Jr., Antonio Carlos Callado de Souza, Myron Glickman, Ken Svihlik
  • Patent number: 9120633
    Abstract: A grain sweep (1) for use on a floor comprises an elongated frame, said frame comprises an elongated hood (2) comprising a top panel (3) and first (4) and second (5) side walls. It further comprises a first (6) and a second wheel rotatably attached to said elongated frame adjacent a first and a second end of said elongated frame, respectively, a drive means (7) passing about said first (6) and second wheels, and a plurality of spaced apart paddles (8) arranged on said drive means (7). The hood (2) further comprises one bottom wall (9) extending from one of said side walls. At least one paddle (10) comprises a side with one part (11) adjacent the bottom wall and parallel with the floor and one part (12) with corresponding shape to the bottom wall (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Skandia Elevator AB
    Inventor: Anders Ahlèn
  • Patent number: 9114941
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an elevated structure extending along and above a receptacle, a trolley for travel along the elevated structure, a trolley bucket supported by the trolley for receiving and discharging unconsolidated material, and a high-lift structure including a rotatable dumper lift for lifting unconsolidated material from a first elevation to a second elevation greater than the first elevation, and discharging unconsolidated material into the trolley bucket. The high-lift structure is operably coupled with the elevated structure. The rotatable dumper lift can receive a first volume of unconsolidated material at the first elevation, lift the first volume from the first elevation to the second elevation, and discharge the first volume into the trolley bucket. The trolley bucket can discharge the first volume of unconsolidated material into the receptacle while the rotatable dumper lift receives a second volume of unconsolidated material at the first elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Sebright Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Fein, William Dale Brisbin, Brent H. Sebright, James Scobey
  • Patent number: 9102339
    Abstract: The invention relates to the automatically transfer of a container between a flatcar (2) or the like and a transfer vehicle moving along said flatcar (2), whereby a method and a system is adapted to handle (3) both customized containers and ordinary standard containers, and it will automatically lock and unlock the freight (1) containers at the time of pulling a container between secured positions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: BLACH HOLDING APS
    Inventor: Heine Blach Jensen
  • Patent number: 9102460
    Abstract: The invention relates to an open top generally rectangular hopper for the delivery and discharge of a flowable material. The hopper has lower side walls which converge inwardly and downwardly and are joined to a bottom plate. The hopper also has a bracket mounted on the exterior of the back vertical wall for securing the hopper container to the arm of a transport vehicle. A discharge chute is located on the lower portion of the front vertical wall about equidistant between the downwardly and inwardly converging lower sidewalls. In certain embodiments, an anti-spill lip surrounds the perimeter of the hopper opening and is angled between 30° to 90° inwardly from the vertical walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Thaddeus Pylinski
  • Patent number: 9090193
    Abstract: The invention disclosed here is a moving headboard for use in connection with a reciprocating floor slat system. It is particularly well-suited for use in connection with load-hauling trailers that have built-in reciprocating floor slat conveyors for unloading the trailer. Trailers of this kind are used in lieu of hydraulic lifts and involve inching the load off the trailer. The moving headboard sweeps the trailer floor clean during the unloading process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Keith Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: John Cook, Kenneth Stout, Daniel Jackson, Randall Mark Foster
  • Patent number: 9079714
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a glass substrate cassette and pick-and-place system for glass substrates. The glass substrate cassette comprises: a cassette case, comprising a pair of side walls disposed in parallel and vertically; and a plurality of support racks, disposed inside the cassette case for supporting glass substrates, each support rack comprising a pair of connecting elements supporting respectively the pair of side walls and a plurality of support elements lined up in parallel along a first horizontal direction and connected to the pair of connecting elements, connecting element able to move along the first horizontal direction with respect to the side walls and at least partially beyond the cassette case. The support rack of the present invention can move beyond cassette to realize random pick-and-place of glass substrate at any layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Minghu Qi, Chunhao Wu, Kunhsien Lin, Yongqiang Wang, Xiande Li, Weibing Yang