Patents Examined by Calvin Padgett
  • Patent number: 5865893
    Abstract: Uneconomical use of resist liquid is prevented by reducing resist liquid discharging time. Discharging time calculating means calculates a proper resist liquid discharging time, based on a first and a second rotation angular speeds of a supporting pedestal and a discharged flow quantity discharged from resist liquid discharging nozzle per unit time. When the proper resist liquid discharging time has elapsed from the start of discharging of the resist liquid by means of a pump, discharging of the resist liquid is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minobu Matsunaga, Masahiro Mimasaka, Ikuo Mizobata
  • Patent number: 5863333
    Abstract: Four sets of shower heads 100, 200, 300, 400 are located in a surface modifying chamber of a surface modifying apparatus, and each shower head 100, 200, 300, 400 has surface modifier piping including a plurality of spray nozzles. The nozzles are arranged such that showers of an aqueous ozone solution injected from every adjacent two nozzles will contact the resin molded product and partly overlap one another. The phases in position of the nozzles can be offset a half-pitch or staggered with the staggered arrangement of the nozzles serving to compensate for any insufficient oxidation reaction to achieve uniform surface modification over the entire surface of the resin molded product 2. Further, the time required for the surface modification treatment can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Kato, Yasuhiko Ogisu, Nobuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5861060
    Abstract: A grounded insulated electrostatic supply tank comprised of a conductive tank that has several liners to fully insulate a waterborn fluid in the tank from ground. The interior of the tank and a sealed lid are coated with an insulating liner. An intermediate lining is placed in the tank and third interior insulating inner liner is inserted in the tank and has a lip that wraps around the upper rim of the tank and is sealed between the lid and the tank. Electrostatic spray equipment is connected to the tank by a coaxial hose having an inner non-conductive hose and preferably, an outer hose that is conductive. Inner non-conductive hose extends through the lid into an insulating teflon pick-up tube that extends to near the bottom of the tank. Depleted waterborn fluid in the tank is grounded after use by a manual probe or by a piston operated automatic grounding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Binks Sames Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Maugans, Kevin J. Knight, Paul Flint
  • Patent number: 5861062
    Abstract: A workpiece spray-painting device having at least two painting booths arranged on the conveying track of the workpieces, with each booth being designed in two separate parts that may be separated from each other. A spraying device for coating the workpieces is movable on a track between the booths when the booth parts are separated from each other so that the spray device may be positioned in one or the other of the booths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Tegometall (International) AG
    Inventor: Herbert Reiss
  • Patent number: 5858095
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing granules onto a moving asphalt coated sheet includes first and second granule feed chambers containing granules that are fed to a discharge slot by first and second pockets. The pockets are formed in a slidable divider positioned between the feed chambers and the discharge slot. The divider is slid between a first position and a second position by a fluid powered actuator via an actuator rod. In the first position, the first pocket is in communication with the first granule feed chamber to receive granules from the feed chamber and the second pocket is in communication with the discharge slot for discharging the granules contained in the second pocket. In the second position the first pocket is in communication with the discharge slot for discharging the granules contained in the first pocket and the second pocket is in communication with the second feed chamber to receive granules from the feed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. White, Glenn D. Lamb, Carla A. Miller, Lawrence J. Grubka
  • Patent number: 5858094
    Abstract: A machine system and process for producing attrition resistant, controlled release fertilizer is described. In the process, a prewet solution is used to initially coat the plant nutrient to be coated followed by the separate application of the individual components used in the coating. The machine system provides an improved means for uniformly applying a single layer or multiple layers of polymer coatings to the plant nutrient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: RLC Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: John H. Detrick, Frederick T. Carney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5858099
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to electrostatic chucks, methods for their use, the electrostatic deposition of objects, such as particles in a dry powder, onto recipient substrates, and the recipient substrates themselves that have been subjected to electrostatic deposition. In one aspect, the present invention provides an electrostatic chuck for electrostatically attracting an object or objects wherein the object is used in chemical or pharmaceutical assaying or manufacturing. The objects can be pharmaceutical substrates, for example, such as a pharmaceutical tablet. Additional embodiments of the invention provide chucks and their use to electrostatically attract particles, such as a pharmaceutically active ingredient, to a substrate, such as a tablet. In one aspect, the electrostatic chuck comprises a floating electrode, and is used to selectively attract particles to a substrate above the floating electrode, thereby providing for charge imaging for the deposition of particles in a selected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Hoi Cheong Steve Sun, Timothy Allen Pletcher
  • Patent number: 5855674
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous galvanizing of a linear element wherein controlled flow of molten zinc onto the linear element is effected through one or more nozzles, whereby galvanizing may be accomplished without immersion of the linear element in molten zinc. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the invention comprises an annular nozzle having a central opening through which the linear element is axially advanced. The nozzle is configured to provide a converging, generally frustoconical curtain of molten zinc flowing continuously onto the exterior surface of the linear element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Allied Tube & Conduit Corporation
    Inventors: Kalyan K. Maitra, Daniel G. McInerney, Carl H. Unger
  • Patent number: 5853483
    Abstract: A substrate supporting device includes support elements for supporting a substrate, and positioning elements for contacting outer peripheries of the substrate to check horizontal movement thereof. A substrate sensor is disposed around the supporting device for detecting the substrate supported thereon. The supporting device is surrounded also by light projectors for horizontally projecting light having projection tracks overlapping, in a plan view, the substrate supported by the substrate supported device and extending at an angle to one another, and light receivers for receiving the projected light. The substrate sensor and light receivers input signals to a microcomputer for determining whether the substrate is correctly supported. A light projector may project a light beam toward the surface of the substrate supporting on the substrate supporting device, and cause the light beam to be reflected by the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Morita, Kenji Ueno
  • Patent number: 5851291
    Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for mixing and blending liquid chemicals with a gas or air, and more particularly for providing an air and chemical mixture having the consistency of a foam substance for coating the surface of a fabric or other substrate material. The invention provides a mixing apparatus having a plurality of peristaltic type pumps that operate at a system pressure that will permit pulsed mixing of air with chemical substances without using high system pressures to achieve a predetermined mix ratio for a chemical compound. The addition of a premix unit helps to achieve the mixing by providing a two stage mixing process when used along with a blending foamer. A unique air injector of the premix unit aids in the initial injection of air into the chemical substance. The blending foamer has an improved rotor configuration and mounting to also achieve enhanced mixing. The mixing apparatus provides a foam substance of a chemical compound for coating a substrate material in a coating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventors: Robert J. Poterala, Joseph G. Poterala
  • Patent number: 5851248
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for aligning a powder spray canopy of a powder coating booth with a fan plenum assembly so that a powder collector can be quickly aligned and simultaneously sealed to both the powder spray canopy and the fan plenum. The invention also relates to an improved filter cartridge and filter cartridge mounting assembly which allows for quick and easy mounting and dismounting of filter cartridges to the powder collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy E. Wilson, Donald Leonard Urig, Michael A. Reighard, David L. Ray, Dean A. Koch, Jeffrey R. Shutic, Christopher Hart Chandler, Robert J. Holland, Andreas Kress
  • Patent number: 5851292
    Abstract: An apparatus for electrostatically coating a workpiece has an insulating separator valve mechanism for electrically separating a paint supply passage for supplying an electrically conductive paint to a coating gun, into a paint supply passage to which a high voltage will be applied and a paint supply passage to which no high voltage will be applied. The insulating separator valve mechanism has a first valve body connectable to said paint supply passage through a first on/off valve, and a second valve body connectable to said paint supply passage through a second on/off valve. While the first and second valve bodies are connected to each other and the first and second on/off valves are closed, a paint trap is cleaned by a cleaning medium, which is discharged into a second dump passage. A process of cleaning the paint trap for a paint color change is efficiently and reliably carried out to reliably remove paint residuals from the paint trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuuji Minoura, Yukihito Ono, Osamu Kageyama, Takashi Shimada, Toshiyuki Kokubo
  • Patent number: 5849082
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary glazing machine, in particular for ceramic tiles, which comprises a mobile rest plane for tiles on which the tiles are translated in a predetermined direction, and a rotary glazing apparatus situated superiorly to the rest plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Ronflette S.A.
    Inventor: Franco Stefani
  • Patent number: 5849084
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for dispensing liquids on to a rotating surface. The apparatus includes first and second dispense lines connected to at least one liquid source to permit the dispensing of liquids from the first and second dispense lines on to a rotating surface. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second dispense lines are tubular and have first and second dispense tube disposed within the interior region of the first and second dispense lines, respectively. The first and second dispense tubes define first and second annular regions with the dispense lines, which are preferably connected by a fluid channel. A heat exchanger is attached to the first and second annular region to enable a heat transfer medium to be circulated through the first and second annular regions and the fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Hayes, Mark V. Peckham
  • Patent number: 5846327
    Abstract: A substrate spin treating apparatus includes a spin chuck for supporting a substrate in a horizontal posture and spinning the substrate about a vertical axis. A nozzle is provided for supplying a treating solution to the substrate supported by the spin chuck, and a scatter preventive cup in disposed to surround the substrate on the spin chuck and has an inclined surface extending around an entire inner circumference of the cup for downwardly guiding sprays of the treating solution and the like formed by a spinning of the substrate. The scatter preventive cup includes an inner skirt extending around an entire circumference adjacent an upper end of the inclined surface The inner skirt has a surface opposed to the inclined surface and bent away from a spin center of the substrate. This construction suppresses the treating solution from adhering to and accumulating on portions, adjacent the upper end of the inclined surface, of the surface of the inner skirt opposed to the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Kawamoto, Mitsuhiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 5824154
    Abstract: A coating blade (5) for controlled application and smoothing of a coating composition on a travelling paper web (7) supported by a co-rotary roll (9), said blade (5) comprising a steel strip (13) elongated in a first direction between first and second edge sections, said first edge section engaging the paper web (7) and being provided with an abrasive wear resistant deposit (15) to extend the life of the blade, wherein an intermediate layer (17) positioned between said deposit (15) and said steel strip (13), said layer (17) having a higher resistance to abrasive wear than said deposit (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: BTG Eclepens S.A.
    Inventor: Silvano Freti
  • Patent number: 5814151
    Abstract: A photoresist spraying apparatus for coating a photoresist with pressure from a nitrogen gas includes a tank which has a photoresist holding portion and an air portion. A photoresist inflow conduit is connected to a sidewall of the tank to intake photoresist and a photoresist outflow conduit is connected to a bottom of the tank for discharging photoresist. A T-shaped gas conduit has a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a connecting portion therebetween for connecting to the tank. The flow of a gas from the gas inlet to the gas outlet lowers the air pressure inside the tank so that air and bubbles remaining inside the tank are discharged to the gas outlet via the connecting portion, while a photoresist flows into the tank via the photoresist inflow conduit. A valve, provided in the gas outlet of the gas conduit, opens and closes to fill and discharge photoresist in the tank according to the pressure inside the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyu-myeung Lee, Ill-jin Jang
  • Patent number: 5814152
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating the surface of a substrate suspends a coating material above the surface of the substrate and irradiates both the coating material and the underlying surface of the substrate. By irradiating both the coating material and the underlying surface of the substrate, a first portion of the coating material is melted to form an at least partially molten droplet of coating material. In addition, at least a second portion of the coating material is ablated to thereby create an ablation plume which propels the at least partially molten droplet of coating material toward the substrate. Thus, a metallic powder can be suspended within a carrier and can be directed along the substrate so as to be irradiated by a pulse of laser energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Thaler
  • Patent number: 5807435
    Abstract: A spray module 40 for manufacturing a cathode-ray tube (CRT) 10 comprises an enclosure 42 having sidewalls 44, a base 46 attached to the sidewalls 44, for closing one end thereof, and a panel support 48 having an opening, 50 therethrough. The panel support 48 is attached to an opposite end of the sidewalls 44. The spray module 40 has at least one electrostatic spray gun 36 therein for spraying charged screen structure material through the opening 50 in the panel support 48 and onto an interior surface of a faceplate panel 12 of the CRT 10. The spray module 40 includes a primary shield assembly 55 disposed within the enclosure 42 and extending through the opening 50 in the panel support 48. A secondary shield assembly 56 also is disposed within the enclosure 42 The primary and secondary shield assemblies 55 and 56, respectively, direct the charged screen structure material toward the interior surface of the panel 12, thereby increasing the transfer efficiency of the spray gun 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Samuel Poliniak, Peter Michael Ritt, Brian Thomas Collins, Richard LaPeruta, Jr., Harry Robert Stork
  • Patent number: 5807436
    Abstract: A technique for uniformly depositing particles, especially phosphor particles, onto a display panel and an apparatus for carrying out this technique are set forth in this application. This technique relies on both electrostatically and pneumatically passing charged particles to the display panel so that a uniform coating takes place both on the flat surfaces and on the curved surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventors: Gustav A. Stachelhaus, Gary S. Gielincki