Patents Examined by Joshua Rudawitz
  • Patent number: 8287223
    Abstract: A vehicle restraint includes a hook supported by a carriage that travels vertically along a track, wherein the hook can move to selectively restrain or release a vehicle's ICC bar at a loading dock. The carriage includes a unique roller arrangement that minimizes friction while maximizing the rolling line contact between a set of rollers and the track. Instead of individual rollers mounted at opposite ends of a shaft extending from the carriage, two or more rollers are mounted to a module, and two such modules are rotatably or otherwise movably attached to the ends of the shaft. Each module includes a shaft-receiving bore having an inner diameter comparable to that of a conventional individual roller, thus the unique roller arrangement lends itself well to retrofit applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Andersen, Timothy Cotton
  • Patent number: 8272827
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment a semiconductor workpiece processing system having at least one processing tool for processing semiconductor workpieces, a container for holding at least one semiconductor workpiece therein for transport to and from the at least one processing tool and a first transport section elongated and defining a travel direction. The first transport section has parts, that interface the container, supporting and transporting the container along the travel direction to and from the at least one processing tool. The container is in substantially continuous transport at a substantially constant rate in the travel direction, when supported by the first transport section. A second transport section is connected to the at least one process tool for transporting the container to and from the at least one processing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventors: Michael L. Bufano, Ulysses Gilchrist, William Fosnight, Christopher Hofmeister, Daniel Babbs, Robert C. May
  • Patent number: 8267634
    Abstract: A semiconductor workpiece processing system having at least one processing apparatus for processing workpieces, a primary transport system, a secondary transport system and one or more interfaces between first transport system and second transport system. The primary and secondary transport systems each have one or more sections of substantially constant velocity and in queue sections communicating with the constant velocity sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Bufano, Ulysses Gilchrist, William Fosnight, Christopher Hofmeister, Daniel Babbs, Robert C. May
  • Patent number: 8267632
    Abstract: A system for processing semiconductor wafers including a plurality of robotic facilities serially joined to each other to form a substantially linear transport chamber through which wafers can be transferred from each facility, wherein the substantially linear transport chamber is sealed to hold a controlled atmosphere and each of the plurality of robotic facilities includes at least one scara robot having three arm links serially coupled to one another and having a substrate holder rotatably coupled at a distal end of the three arm links, the plurality of robot facilities being configured to effect the transfer of wafers through the substantially linear transport chamber via handoff a wafer between neighboring scara robots, and a multi-entry process module coupled to at least one of the plurality of robotic facilities, where each entry of the multi-entry process module is accessed by the at least one of the at least one scara robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter van der Meulen, Christopher C Kiley, Patrick D. Pannese
  • Patent number: 8256053
    Abstract: An apparatus for wheeling a vehicle onto a truck or trailer includes a ramp. The apparatus includes a mounting portion attached to the ramp that mounts to the truck or trailer. The apparatus includes a transition piece the pivotally attaches to the ramp and contacts ground when the mounting portion is mounted to the truck or trailer. A method for placing a vehicle onto a truck or trailer includes the steps of attaching a mounting portion of a ramp to the truck or trailer. There is the step of moving a transition piece attached to the ramp so the transition piece contacts ground. There is the step of wheeling the vehicle across the transition piece, up the ramp and onto the truck or trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Werner Co.
    Inventors: Kyle G. Astor, Brett A. Latimer, Robert D. Beggs
  • Patent number: 8246283
    Abstract: Equipment and a method for transporting red-hot coke are provided, which do not need increase in size of a hoist, reinforcement of a CDQ system, and the like, even when the amount capacity of a coke bucket does not correspond to an amount equivalent to the coke amount from one oven chamber. In particular, transporting equipment for red-hot coke, includes: a non-rotary coke receiving car for receiving coke out of a coke oven; a coke bucket for receiving the coke discharged from the coke receiving car; a transporting device for transporting the coke bucket to a hoist position; and a hoist for transporting the coke bucket to a coke dry quenching system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: JP Steel Plantech Co.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Fujita, Takeshi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8235644
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle lift mounted to the rear portion of a vehicle to transport a personal mobility vehicle from location to location comprising a platform assembly configured to support a personal mobility vehicle thereon operatively coupled to a lift assembly to selectively raise and lower the platform assembly with or without a personal mobility vehicle thereon and a mount assembly coupled to the lift assembly to mount the personal mobility vehicle lift to the rear portion of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hoveround Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony P. DiGiovanni, Jeffery R. Moone
  • Patent number: 8226342
    Abstract: The transport device for an elongate object, e.g. for a rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprises a support surface for the elongate object, comprising a front end and a rear end, means for pivoting the elongate object from a substantially horizontal orientation into at least one inclined orientation arranged obliquely relative to the substantially horizontal orientation, and means for changing the distance between the ends of the support surface as viewed in the vertical projection of the support surface, wherein, if the elongate object is arranged in the substantially horizontal orientation, the ends of the support surface are spaced apart a first distance value, and, if the elongate object is arranged in the at least one inclined orientation, the ends of the support surface are spaced apart a second distance value which is smaller than the first distance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob Nies
  • Patent number: 8221047
    Abstract: A seed carrier includes a main hopper coupled with a frame via leg members. The main hopper has a discharge. A base plate is coupled with the frame. A support arm is rotatably coupled with the base plate at a first end. A belt driven conveyor having a conveyor hopper at a first end and a discharge at a second end is rotatably coupled with a second end of said support arm at an approximate center of gravity thereof. A latch mechanism is provided for detachably coupling the first end of the conveyor with the first end of the support arm such that the conveyor hopper is position below the main hopper discharge. When the conveyor is uncoupled from the first end of the support arm, the conveyor can rotate to a loading position wherein the discharge thereof can be positioned over the main hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian James Petersen, David Richard Smith
  • Patent number: 8206076
    Abstract: A cassette waiting block is connected to a transfer in/out block of a coating and developing treatment system, and in the cassette waiting block, a cassette transfer in/out unit, a cassette waiting unit, a cassette delivery unit, and a substrate processing unit are provided. In the cassette waiting block, a cassette transfer unit for transferring the cassette between the cassette transfer in/out unit, the cassette waiting unit, and the cassette deliver unit, and a transfer unit for transferring the substrate between the cassette in the cassette waiting unit and the substrate processing unit are provided. Each cassette waiting unit has an opening mechanism for opening a port of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Issei Ueda, Yasushi Hayashida, Akira Miyata, Kensei Yamamoto, Yuichi Yamamoto, Michiaki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8197174
    Abstract: The automatic bag opening and slitting machine has a spike star wheels assembly comprising either of one or a combination of star wheels or cylindroid drum like object. The star wheels assembly is provided with spikes which convey a bag, impaled on the spikes when in an extended position, and extends beneath rotary cutting disks driven by two independent pneumatic or electric motors, that may make a continuous cut around three sides of the bag, so that after cutting thereof, the bag comprises two halves joined only at the rear or trailing side of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Luxme Holding Inc.
    Inventors: Francois Caron, Navam Jagan, Patrice Lasnier
  • Patent number: 8186929
    Abstract: A media storage library for storing a plurality of media cartridges is provided. The media storage library includes at least one media transfer mechanism, and a plurality of storage panels for storing media cartridges, including at least a first movable storage panel. The first storage panel is movable from the first position to a second position, and each storage panel of the plurality of movable storage panels includes at least a first access face for the at least one media transfer mechanism to access the media cartridges. An access space is formed between the first movable storage panel and a second storage panel, and the at least one media transfer mechanism is able to access the media cartridges via the access space and the first access face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: Christian Allen Todd
  • Patent number: 8182192
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a frame and a load port connected to the frame and adapted to mate a substrate transport container to the frame. The apparatus has transportable storage that is adapted to be removably connected to the frame and fit beneath the load port. The storage may be an enclosure housing electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical devices of the substrate processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Hall, Christopher Hofmeister, William Fosnight, Jeff G. Araujo, Steven Allen, Glenn Sindledecker
  • Patent number: 8182194
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a refuse collection vehicle including a vehicle body for receiving, compacting, transporting and ejecting refuse materials of a type using a packer panel that operates reciprocally along in said vehicle body with a connected follower panel in which the receiving and packing arrangement enables refuse to be deposited into a receiving section or area at any time regardless of the reciprocal position of the packer panel and which includes an efficient, low maintenance wiper member design in conjunction with a follower panel attached to the packer panel such that the top surface of both the follower panel and the packer panel are cleaned or swept off during the return or retraction stroke of the packer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudiu D. Pruteanu, Jarud H. Hoefker, Timothy J. Edelbach
  • Patent number: 8177471
    Abstract: A goods handling' apparatus for a cargo storage and transport vehicle includes a movable cargo platform continuous with a portion of cargo enclosure floor, when the cargo platform is in an upper position. Cargo may be slid between the trailer floor and the cargo platform. A vertical actuator raises and lowers the cargo platform between the upper position and a lower position atop the ground or other vehicle support surface whereupon cargo may be slid between the cargo platform and the ground or other positions. The cargo platform is disposed substantially within the plan perimeter of the floor of the cargo module during raising and lowering. A modular system may be integrated into the cargo enclosure, or may be incorporated into a modular enclosure for appending to a cargo box of the prior art. An underside is disposed in vertically adjusting communication with the cargo platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Ronald R Nespor
  • Patent number: 8167525
    Abstract: An unloader for unloading material from a container. In some embodiments, the unloader can include an unloader arm movable within the container, a first chain coupled to the unloader arm and movable to unload material from the container, and a second chain coupled to the unloader arm and positioned to engage material within the container upon movement of the unloader arm. The unloader can have a sensor adapted to transmit signals indicative of a force applied to the unloader arm, the first chain, and/or the second chain. A controller can receive the signal from the sensor, and can alter an operation of the unloader arm, the first chain, and/or the second chain based upon the signal received from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: CST Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Hlinka
  • Patent number: 8167254
    Abstract: A trash container emptying mechanism provides an upstanding ā€œUā€ shaped yoke with two horizontally spaced apart vertically extending arms each having a perpendicular base portion mounted to wheeled cart. A trash container carrier having a partially circumferentially extending rigid upper support, a vertically spaced apart bottom support and at least one vertical leg communicating between the rigid upper support and the bottom support is pivotally carried within the yoke on two offset pivot spacers and two horizontal axles extending therethrough and therebetween. A flexible length adjustable strap releasably secures the trash container to the carrier and a removable position locking pin extends through aligned axle holes defined in yoke vertical arm and carrier to positionally secure the carrier and trash container in a vertical orientation within the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Dale Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8162585
    Abstract: An article storage facility includes a storage rack that includes a plurality of storage units that store articles; a first article transport that includes a first vertically movable body guided by a first vertical guide and a first transit body configured to move along a path defined along the storage rack, the first vertical guide being provided in the first article transport so as to be positioned on one side of a lateral direction of the path; and a second article transport that includes a second vertically movable body guided by a second vertical guide and a second transit body configured to move along the path, the second vertical guide being provided in the second article transport so as to be positioned on the other lateral side of the path. The first transit body and the second transit body are configured so as to be able to pass each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushi Tsujimoto, Yuichi Ueda, Takashi Fujita
  • Patent number: 8157497
    Abstract: A loader assembly for a TEM machine having a retractable arm that is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. A hoop portion of the retractable arm also moves between the retracted position and the extended position. A lower closure for holding a part to be processed in the TEM machine is removably positioned in the hoop portion. A ram piston of the TEM machine is movable between a load position and a process position. When the ram piston moves from a load position to a process position the ram piston contacts the lower closure and extends through the hoop of the retractable arm to move the lower closure to the process position. A thermal chamber receives the lower closure when the ram piston moves to the process position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Miles Edmond Loretta, Daryl Duane Perkins, Axel Willi Kieser
  • Patent number: 8157496
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a cassette placing table; a first transfer mechanism having a first substrate holding hand capable of advancing/retreating and using this first substrate holding hand to transfer a substrate with respect to the cassette; a substrate processing unit for executing a predetermined process on a substrate; a second transfer mechanism having a second substrate holding hand capable of advancing/retreating and pivotable at a vertical axis, and using the second substrate holding hand to transfer a substrate with respect to the first transfer mechanism and the substrate processing unit; a moving mechanism for moving the first transfer mechanism in an arrangement direction of the cassettes; and a control unit for controlling transfer of a substrate between the first transfer mechanism and the second transfer mechanism in a position where the first transfer mechanism is opposed to a cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Okuno, Takashi Hara