Patents Examined by Brendan Tighe
  • Patent number: 8973768
    Abstract: A gantry robot system includes a bridge assembly and a carriage assembly. The bridge assembly and/or a mounting plate supported by the carriage assembly can be rotationally skewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: PaR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Jung, Thomas E. Marrinan, Come Rene-Bazin De Jouy
  • Patent number: 8967935
    Abstract: A substrate loader adapted to load and unload a substrate to and from a moveable holder having a seal. The substrate loader has a base and a holder support frame coupled to the base, the holder support frame adapted to repeatably position the moveable holder relative to a predetermined datum. The substrate transport is coupled to the base and having a substrate chuck and adapted to move and transport the substrate relative to the holder. The substrate transport is deterministically positioned relative to the predetermined datum and is adapted to move the substrate from a first position, with the substrate captured by the moveable holder, to a second position with the substrate disengaged from the holder and the seal, the substrate transport movement of the substrate from the first to the second position effecting disengagement from the holder and the seal substantially without contacting the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tel Nexx, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Goodman, Arthur Keigler, Freeman Fisher
  • Patent number: 8936425
    Abstract: An ancillary apparatus for loading glass substrates into a bracket through a robotic arm includes a holding rack to hold a bracket, a guiding mechanism located above the bracket and a glass lifting mechanism located below the bracket. The robotic arm grips the glass substrate and moves the glass substrate above the bracket to be guided by the guiding mechanism and held by the glass lifting mechanism, and then the glass substrate is released from the robotic arm. The glass substrate is guided by the guiding mechanism and braced by the glass lifting mechanism, and then is lowered slowly into the bracket. Hence the robotic arm does not need to be entered the bracket to load the glass substrate, extra space to receive the robotic arm can be saved and thus more glass substrates can be loaded. The cost is reduced and productivity is improved to meet production requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Tera Autotech Corporation
    Inventor: Yi-Lung Lee
  • Patent number: 8919576
    Abstract: A system for moving crates in a warehouse, in which crates (C) to be moved are organized in supply modules (M), each made up of a predetermined number of rows each having a predetermined number of crates. The system includes a translator device (1) for rows of crates that brings about the movement of at least one row of crates, so as to create at least one aisle (W) for passing between one row and another of the module, in which it is possible to gain access through a crates manipulator (3), which is able to move along the module and through the aisles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: OTO Melara S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Chiappini, Gianluca Biselli
  • Patent number: 8920104
    Abstract: A mining shovel (10) includes a hydraulic system comprising a plurality of fixed displacement pumps (104,106,108,110) driven by a variable speed motor (100), and a tank (68) system comprising an upper return tank and a lower supply tank (70). A cylinder manifold (64) is connected to the pump control manifold (112), and includes a directional control valve for directing the extend and retract functions of the cylinder (50), while accepting fluid flow in a single direction from the pump control manifold. The single direction flow allows for the use of smaller fluid conduits (61), such that the hose providing a high pressure supply can be comparatively smaller than the return hose (67).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Carl D. Gilmore, Robert Weber, Perry DeCuir
  • Patent number: 8882431
    Abstract: A robot that includes an end effector for holding a substrate in a substantially horizontal state; a vertical driving unit for driving the end effector to move in a vertical direction; a horizontal driving unit for driving the vertical driving unit to move in a horizontal direction; and a rotation driving unit for rotating the horizontal driving unit about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. In this case, one end of the end effector is connected with the vertical driving unit. One end of the vertical driving unit is connected with the horizontal driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8882430
    Abstract: An industrial robot may include a first hand and a second hand on which an object is mounted, a first arm which turnably holds the first hand on a first end side, a second arm which turnably holds the second hand on a first end side, a common arm which turnably holds a second end side of the first arm and a second end side of the second arm, a first turning center part which is a turning center of the first arm with respect to the common arm, a second turning center part which is a turning center of the second arm with respect to the common arm, and a main body part which turnably holds the common arm. The first hand and the second hand may be disposed so as to superpose each other, and the first hand and the second hand may be formed with an escape part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Yazawa, Hiroto Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8876453
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus suppresses vibration of a cover when unloading a boat from a process pipe. The apparatus comprises a boat for placing a substrate, a process pipe configured to accommodate the boat, a cover having the boat placed thereon, the cover configured to open and close a furnace port installed on a lower end of the process pipe, a motor to drive an elevation mechanism which moves the cover upward and downward, a sealing member to seal a space between the cover and the process pipe, and a controller to control motor speed and limit motor torque while the cover moves from the furnace port to a predetermined position. The substrate is maintained at a rest position in the boat during a recovery from a deformation of the cover occurring when separating the sealing member from the cover surface or the process pipe surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Yukinori Aburatani, Masakazu Shimada, Osamu Morita
  • Patent number: 8864434
    Abstract: System for moving objects positioned in a closed space, includes at least one manipulator (3), adapted to grip and orient the objects in the desired positions and at least one overhead-travelling-crane mechanism (2), adapted to move said manipulator in the closed space in at least two different directions substantially horizontal. An electronic processing unit, controlled by an operator, is able to electronically and automatically determine the movements of the overhead-travelling-crane mechanism and of the manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: OTO Melara S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Chiappini, Gianluca Biselli, Tonino Moricca
  • Patent number: 8857880
    Abstract: A modular ramp and cargo box extension assembly is provided for use in connection with a pickup truck cargo box. The ramp assembly has a ramp connector assembly provided on the vehicle tailgate and ramps having a connector for connecting to the ramp connector to serve as loading ramps. The ramp connector has a pivoting clevis bracket and tangs that connects into a channel on the tailgate. Vertical tracks are provided proximate walls of the cargo box and rails are provided in the tracks to retain the ramps and move between retracted and extended positions so as to extend the height of the cargo box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Nicholas Kalergis, Daniel P. Cousino, Frank Victor Bonello
  • Patent number: 8857080
    Abstract: A front end loader supports a bucket having opposite side walls connected by a bottom wall. An ejector plate is supported for movement within the bucket between a collapsed position and an extended position by a scissor mechanism including a set of parallel forward tracks secured to the ejector plate and a set of parallel rearward tracks secured to the bucket. Upper and lower sets of pivotally connected and crossing link members are connected to the tracks by pivots and rollers, and a hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the sets of link members and is pivotally connected to the rearward tracks and to the link members. A hydraulic booster cylinder initiates forward movement of the ejector plate from its collapsed position, and the side walls of the bucket have opposing guide rails which hold the ejector plate adjacent the bottom wall of the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Frank J Sutter
  • Patent number: 8845265
    Abstract: A detection link of a spill guard link mechanism is pivoted and connected to a bucket bracket in a position proximate to a bucket pivot support axis rotatably supporting a bucket and above a lower surface of a boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Oyama, Masahiro Sugioka, Shusaku Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8845262
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate transit table configured to mount thereon a plurality of substrates; a substrate processing chamber configured to process the substrate one by one; a substrate transfer device capable of loading the substrate into the substrate processing chamber from the substrate transit table and unloading the substrate from the substrate processing chamber to the substrate transit table; and N number of (N is an integer equal to or larger than 3) substrate holding devices provided at the substrate transfer device and configured to hold the substrates one by one. Here, a multiplicity of (2 to N?1 number of) substrates are concurrently held by 2 to N?1 number of substrate holding devices among the N number of substrate holding devices and one substrate is loaded into the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Akira Murata, Issei Ueda, Osamu Kuroda, Kouji Kimoto, Masahiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8839534
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a monolithic floor for use with a hot slag bucket. The monolithic floor improves the lifespan of the bucket when used with hot slag by reducing warpage caused by heating and cooling and thus significantly reduces the cost of owning and operating the hot slag bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: ACS Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Zeno, Robert J. Willoughby
  • Patent number: 8839945
    Abstract: The invention refers to an order picking plant for order picking of articles into order containers. The order picking plant comprises a picking station and a sorter. Between the sorter and order container a number of collection points are provided. Further, the invention relates to a process where the articles are stored intermediately in a collection point between sorter and order container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Salomon Automation GbmH
    Inventors: Michael Gruber, Franz Bauer-Kieslinger, Oliver Springstubbe
  • Patent number: 8833540
    Abstract: A pallet changing system which utilizes the moving function itself of a machine head at a machining center for conveying a pallet and a configuration of a machining center equipping the system, combines a machine head 2 for machining a workpiece with a pallet changing unit 1 having a pallet changing arm 11 which can be rotated by a motor 13 and then allowed to move, by which a pallet 3 is conveyed, and the new pallet 3 for changing is changed with the existing pallet 3 gripped by a pallet clamping device 4 by turning the pallet changing arm 11, and a machining center which equips the above system and also machines a workpiece by using the machine head 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Amaya, Toshihiko Kato, Masaki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8814490
    Abstract: An article storage facility is provided, which can reduce required space for installation in the rack fore and aft direction while preventing the configuration to become more complex. An article storage rack 2 having a plurality of storage units 1 arranged in a vertical direction and in a lateral direction, and an article transport device 4 which can transport articles 3 to each storage unit 1 in the article storage rack 2 are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Inui
  • Patent number: 8777546
    Abstract: A carrier is provided for releasably attaching a tool to the lift arms of a work machine. The carrier comprises a lift arm attachment point for attachment to the lift arm, a tool attachment point for releasable attachment of the tool to the carrier, and a contact pad, for contacting the tool in use. In use, the lift arm and contact pad lie in the same vertical plane. Providing a contact pad between the carrier and tool in line with the lift arm removes any transverse bending forces on the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry A. Lanting, Scott R. Jamieson, Radu T. Guja
  • Patent number: 8770906
    Abstract: A substrate support apparatus has a substrate holding portion to be inserted into a center hole formed in a substrate to support the substrate in a vertical orientation, and includes a first connecting plate connected to the substrate holding portion and a second connecting plate which faces the first connecting plate and is connectable to a transport robot that transports the substrate to a substrate holder. In addition, a shock absorbing member is arranged between the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate so as to allow a movement of the first connecting plate relative to the second connecting plate in horizontal and vertical directions. Support members are configured to connect the first connecting plate to the second connecting plate while allowing the movement of the first connecting plate relative to the second connecting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Atsumi, Masaaki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8764371
    Abstract: A weight based load limiting system for a refuse vehicle. The system includes a weight determination module that generates a signal that varies in accordance with a vehicle weight. If the vehicle weight approaches or exceeds a predetermined maximum weight, the signal inhibits a portion of the loading or packing operation to prevent overloading the vehicle. In various configurations, the inhibiting can be to prevent a lifting of a refuse container to prevent emptying the container into the vehicle hopper. In other various configurations, the inhibiting occurs by maintaining engine power to less than the engine power typically output during a packing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Ralph Waldo Whitfield, Jr., Herman Edward Kelwaski