Patents Examined by Scott Lowe
  • Patent number: 9064919
    Abstract: An industrial robot including a first arm which has a first arm portion, and a second arm portion supported by the first arm portion. The industrial robot also includes a second arm which has a third arm portion and a fourth arm portion supported by the third arm portion. The first arm and the second arm can be expanded/retracted independently. A turning center of the first arm portion and a turning center of the third arm portion are placed coaxially. The first arm and the second arm are constructed so as to be almost line-symmetric with respect to an imaginary line under the condition that the first arm and the second arm are retracted. The first arm portion, the third arm portion, the second arm portion, and the fourth arm portion are placed in this order in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Yazawa, Hiroto Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9062435
    Abstract: Boom uplock arrangement for a loader, said loader comprising a least one movable boom arm (20) and a support means (70), wherein the boom arm (20) is provided with a horizontal, transversal through going hole (21), and a locking pin (42) movably arranged in the hole (21), the locking pin (42) is elongated, and having a first (421) and a second (422) end the locking pin (42) is movable in its longitudinal direction between a passive and an active position; wherein the passive position of the locking pin (42) enables movement of the boom arm (20) past the support means (70), and the active position of the locking pin (42) prevents movement of the boom arm (20) past the support means (70). The invention is characterized in that the locking pin (42) is provided with a protruding maneuver stick (48) arranged in the vicinity of the first end (421) of the locking pin (42), enabling maneuvering of the locking pin (42) between the passive and active positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB
    Inventor: Roger Hylén
  • Patent number: 9054146
    Abstract: There are provided a substrate transferring apparatus for continuously loading/unloading a plurality of substrates in and from a process chamber to reduce time spent on transferring the substrates and to improve productivity and a substrate processing system using the same. The substrate transfer apparatus is installed in the transfer chamber and transfers substrates between first and second process chambers which is positioned lateral sides of the transfer chamber and a load rock chamber. The substrate transfer apparatus includes a driving unit to supply a rotational force, a spindle connected to the driving unit, first swivel plate arms to load/unload substrate to/from first process chamber, and second swivel plate arms to load/unload substrate to/from second process chamber. Since substrates before and after being processed are rapidly exchanged during the simultaneous or continuous process of plural substrates, processing rate increases and overall productivity can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NEW POWER PLASMA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soon-Im Wi
  • Patent number: 9051716
    Abstract: A loader coupling system includes an arm coupler and a link coupler. The arm coupler includes first and second plunger pins located respectfully at opposite first and second ends of the body. At least one plunger actuator is operatively connected to the first and second plunger pins, and the plunger actuator is selectively operative to move the first and second plunger pins between a retracted position and an extended position. The link coupler includes a tilt link with a first end adapted to be pivotally connected to a control link of the associated loader machine and a second end including a hook adapted to selectively engage and retain a cross-pin of the associated attachment. A lock system is connected to the tilt link and is adapted to selectively capture the cross-pin of the associated attachment in the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Paladin Brands Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bricker, Anthony Seda, Robert Sikorski
  • Patent number: 9039340
    Abstract: A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a compound angle joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. When in a transport position, the upper auger assembly portion is offset from the lower auger assembly portion by a transport offset angle such that the upper auger assembly portions folded across the front of the grain cart in a non-obstructive and non-protruding manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ronald J. Schlimgen, John Walvatne, Christopher M. Self
  • Patent number: 9033647
    Abstract: A system for aligning an end effector with a substrate in a substrate transport apparatus. The system comprises a first sensor connected to the end effector and a controller for moving the substrate transport apparatus. The sensor has a sensing path pointed in an outward direction. The sensing path does not intersect the substrate when the substrate is located on the end effector. The controller for moving the substrate transport apparatus moves the substrate transport apparatus, based at least partially upon input from the sensor, to position the end effector at a predetermined position relative to the substrate to pick up the substrate onto the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hofmeister, Mark Saunders
  • Patent number: 9022718
    Abstract: A safety feature prevents a two wheeled electric paper lift from raising a paper tray on uneven ground that includes a tilt switch positioned in parallel with an upper limit switch that controls the height in a vertical direction of the paper tray. When a tilt angle of the paper lift is greater than 5° the tilt switch will prevent the paper tray from being raised and thereby prevent the load on the paper tray from shifting or tipping over and causing injury to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald E Groth, Charles R Brewer, III, Thomas C Palumbo
  • Patent number: 9022714
    Abstract: A substrate processing system and substrate transferring method capable of transferring a substrate bi-directionally through the use of substrate transferring device provided between two rows of processing chambers arranged linearly, thereby improving the substrate-transferring efficiency, the substrate processing system includes a transfer chamber having at least one bi-directional substrate transferring device for bi-directionally transferring a substrate; and a plurality of processing chambers for applying a semiconductor-manufacturing process to the substrate, wherein the plurality of processing chambers are linearly arranged along two rows confronting each other, and the transfer chamber is interposed between the two rows of the processing chambers, wherein the bi-directional substrate transferring device have a moving unit inside the transfer chamber, and horizontally moved by a linear motor; and a bi-directional substrate transferring unit in the moving unit, the bi-directional substrate transferring u
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Jusung Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoo Hwan Lee, Duck Won Moon, Jae Wook Choi
  • Patent number: 8998560
    Abstract: A boom assembly is provided for a material handling machine. The boom assembly includes a boom pivotally coupled to a frame of the machine. The boom has a pair of side plates, a top plate and a bottom plate that are rigidly interconnected. The top plates have a pair of slots which extend therethrough. An arm is pivotally coupled to an end of the boom. A mounting unit extends between a center portion of the side plates. A pair of hydraulic boom cylinders are coupled between the frame and the mounting unit. A pair of spaced apart arm cylinder mounting plates are rigidly mounted to the mounting unit. Each mounting plate extends through a corresponding one of the slots. An arm cylinder is connected between the mounting plates and an arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jesse A. Crane, David E. Lemm
  • Patent number: 8998559
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a backhoe boom lock for engaging a hook member of a boom in a transport position. The boom lock includes a pair of side members disposed parallel to one another along a substantially horizontal axis, each side member having a first end and a second end. A transverse member is coupled between the first end of the pair of side members, the transverse member is configured to engage the hook member in the transport position. The boom lock further includes a pivot point defined near the second end of the pair of side members, the pair of side members being pivotally coupled with respect to the pivot point such that the boom lock pivots about the pivot point. A flange is disposed between the second ends of the pair of side members and is further disposed outwardly from the pivot point at an angle with respect to the horizontal axis. The boom lock also includes a counterweight body integrally coupled to the second ends of the pair of side members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Naushad Maheboob Mujawar, Sandeep Dhotre, Kurtis L. Langner, Dennis A. Brimeyer
  • Patent number: 8998256
    Abstract: A front loader (10) for a tractor with a parking stand unit (28) including a parking support (30) pivotably mounted on the front loader arm (12). A locking brace (32) is pivotably seated at one end on the parking support (30) and is movably guided at the other end by a guidance means (50) formed on the locking brace (32) and at least one guide groove (48, 49) formed in the parking support (30). The guidance means (50) can be brought by pivoting the parking support (30) into the parking position (P3) into a locking position in which it comes to rest at a stop (66) formed in the guide groove (48, 49). The guidance means (50) can be pressed against the stop (66) and fixed in the locking position by a support force of the front loader arm (12) acting in the parking position (P3) on the locking brace (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Damien Faivre
  • Patent number: 8991029
    Abstract: A beam structure of the present disclosure includes a baffle plate. A plurality of lap strips are attached around outer edges of the baffle plate. An adhesive layer is applied to outer surfaces of the lap strips. A plurality of sidewalls are assembled together around the adhesive layer, the lap strips and the baffle plate, thereby forming the beam structure. In an embodiment, the beam structure may be used as a boom assembly for a machine, such as an excavator machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei P. Yelistratov, James A. Forck
  • Patent number: 8992157
    Abstract: A crowd assembly (30) for a power shovel (10) includes a saddle block (34) adapted for pivotal connection to the shovel boom (24). A tubular dipper handle (32) is slideably supported by the saddle block. A hydraulic actuator (50) has a cylinder (52) and a piston rod (54) that is outwardly extendable from one end of the cylinder. One of the cylinder or the piston rod is fixed to the dipper handle and the other one is attached to the saddle block. The cylinder and the piston rod are within the tubular dipper handle which is able to slide longitudinally over the cylinder. A guide bushing (70) extends around the one end of the cylinder and engages an interior surface of the dipper handle. The guide bushing thereby supports that end of the cylinder and inhibits hydraulic actuator from deflecting within the dipper handle when the piston rod is extended from the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventor: Carl D. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 8992158
    Abstract: A reinforcement device for a load bearing structure is disclosed. The reinforcement device may include a tubular wall including a first end, a second end, a throat disposed between the first end and the second end, and a curved portion disposed between the throat and each of the first end and the second end. The tubular wall may also include a first dimension at the throat and a second dimension at each of the first and second ends, the first dimension being smaller than the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Springer, Jason Musheno
  • Patent number: 8965637
    Abstract: A method of operating a working machine which includes a main structure and a working arm pivotally mounted at one end on the main structure. The working arm is raisable and lowerable relative to the main structure by a first actuator device, and is extendible relative to the main structure by a second actuator device. In use, the arm carries at another end a working implement which can carry a load. The machine further including a ground engaging drive structure by which the machine is drivable on the ground. The machine has a longitudinal load moment control system which automatically disables operation of the first and/or second actuator devices from increasing longitudinal instability in the event that a predetermined instability is sensed. When the machine senses a ground travelling speed above a threshold speed, the longitudinal load moment control system is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited
    Inventors: Richard Anthony Brooks, Graham Mark Brooks, Kevin William Ford
  • Patent number: 8965572
    Abstract: In recent years, frames have gotten larger in size and thinner, and warping of the frames has posed a problem. If a warp of a frame is large, there is a high possibility that fetching the frame may fail. If fetching the frame fails, that is, if the frame cannot be fetched, the lead time of mounting gets longer. Further, the frame that cannot be fetched has to be manually removed by an operator. Therefore, a man-hour increases. According to the present invention, before a loader feeder fetches a frame from a frame magazine, a loader lifter is moved in a Y direction. Thereafter, the loader feeder fetches the frame from the frame magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Ohkubo, Mitsuo Yoda
  • Patent number: 8950604
    Abstract: The present invention provides devices, apparatuses, and systems for lifting and mounting of clinical- and research-related equipment. In particular, the present invention provides a lift and mount system for mass spectrometers (e.g., for time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometers (MS)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: IBIS Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared J. Drader, Steven A. Hofstadler, Jose R. Gutierrez, Paul J. Gleason, Andrew J. Scherer, Rex O. Bare
  • Patent number: 8951002
    Abstract: A dual arm robot assembly has two arms each having a set of joint/link pairs that, in conjunction with an actuator assembly. Define at least three degrees of freedom to provide independent horizontal translation and rotation of a distalmost link. A vertical motion mechanism is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Izya Kremerman
  • Patent number: 8944745
    Abstract: A carrier device is provided that can supply, at uneven intervals, a plurality of works arranged at even intervals. The carrier device (1) includes: a first retaining portion (11), second retaining portion (12), third retaining portion (13) and fourth retaining portion (14) that hold and carry a plurality of works arranged at even intervals and supply these to a supply pallet (7) at any intervals; and a retaining base portion (20) to which these first to fourth retaining portions are connected. The retaining base portion (20) includes first to fourth sliding portions that cause the first retaining portion (11) to fourth retaining portion (14) to approach each other or separate in the arrangement direction of the works. The first retaining portion (11) to fourth retaining portion (14) respectively include first engaging parts and second engaging parts that disengage with the works independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Fujiwara, Shunsuke Sunahara, Takeshi Tada, Takayuki Motojima
  • Patent number: 8926259
    Abstract: A technology related to a pick-and-place apparatus for electronic device inspection equipment is provided. The pick-and-place apparatus includes the guiding unit that can interact with a loading element and can guide the picker to load the electronic devices at a correct position on the loading element. Therefore, the pick-and-place apparatus can allow the electronic devices, for example, semiconductor devices having a ball type of electrical contact lead (BGA, FBGA, etc.), to electrically contact the tester in a stable manner when the tester inspects the electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: TechWing., Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Sung Na, In-Gu Jeon, Dong-Hyun Yo, Young-Chul Lee