Patents Examined by William Hong
  • Patent number: 6652364
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for planarizing a microelectronic-device substrate assembly on a planarizing pad. In one aspect of the invention, material is removed from the substrate assembly by pressing the substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a planarizing pad and moving the substrate assembly across the planarizing surface through a planarizing zone. The method also includes replacing at least a portion of a used volume of planarizing solution on the planarizing surface with fresh planarizing solution during the planarization cycle of a single substrate assembly. The used planarizing solution can be replaced with fresh planarizing solution by actively removing the used planarizing solution from the pad with a removing unit and depositing fresh planarizing solution onto the pad in the planarizing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Chopra, Scott G. Meikle
  • Patent number: 6652365
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for planarizing a microelectronic-device substrate assembly on a planarizing pad. In one aspect of the invention, material is removed from the substrate assembly by pressing the substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a planarizing pad and moving the substrate assembly across the planarizing surface through a planarizing zone. The method also includes replacing at least a portion of a used volume of planarizing solution on the planarizing surface with fresh planarizing solution during the planarization cycle of a single substrate assembly. The used planarizing solution can be replaced with fresh planarizing solution by actively removing the used planarizing solution from the pad with a removing unit and depositing fresh planarizing solution onto the pad in the planarizing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Chopra, Scott G. Meikle
  • Patent number: 6648736
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for planarizing a microelectronic-device substrate assembly on a planarizing pad. In one aspect of the invention, material is removed from the substrate assembly by pressing the substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a planarizing pad and moving the substrate assembly across the planarizing surface through a planarizing zone. The method also includes replacing at least a portion of a used volume of planarizing solution on the planarizing surface with fresh planarizing solution during the planarization cycle of a single substrate assembly. The used planarizing solution can be replaced with fresh planarizing solution by actively removing the used planarizing solution from the pad with a removing unit and depositing fresh planarizing solution onto the pad in the planarizing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Chopra, Scott G. Meikle
  • Patent number: 6648252
    Abstract: A reluctance machine includes a stator having an annular support member with a plurality of stator poles disposed thereon. The stator poles each are formed from a corresponding foil coil stator winding. A solid disc-shaped rotor defines a plurality of salient rotor poles, and is rotatably positioned opposite the support member to establish an axial air gap between the rotor and stator poles. A food waste disposer incorporates such a reluctance machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: William F. Strutz
  • Patent number: 6648253
    Abstract: To operate the air circulation and convey the stock flow of scrap material comminuted in the housing (1) of a hammer mill, the airflow generated by the blower effect of a rotor (2) and the stock flow passing through an upper classifying grate (4) are diverted by a deflector hood (8) and guided vertically downwards into a duct (6) that is separate from the housing (1). The stock flow is combined with the stock flow classified in the area of a lower classifying grate (5). The air flow is then guided in the circulating air and the combined stock flow is conveyed to a device (11) for further processing, sorting and/or conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Metso Lindemann GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Adolph, Erich Kohl, Heike Sommerfeld
  • Patent number: 6637481
    Abstract: An apparatus for sharpening a writing instrument, e.g. an electric pencil sharpener, is disclosed as including a body for receiving a pencil for sharpening, and a base, the base having a bottom surface to support the apparatus on a surface, and the body may be positioned relative to the base in a first configuration and at least a second configuration, and when the body is positioned relative to the base in the first configuration, a longitudinal axis of the body and an axis perpendicular to the bottom surface of the base subtend a first angle, and when the body is positioned relative to the base in the second configuration, these two axes subtend a second angle which differs from the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventors: King Biu Mak, Chung Yin Ronald Mak, Chung Ming Mak
  • Patent number: 6638148
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for planarizing a mnicroelectronic-device substrate assembly on a planarizing pad. In one aspect of the invention, material is removed from the substrate assembly by pressing the substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a planarizing pad and moving the substrate assembly across the planarizing surface through a planarizing zone. The method also includes replacing at least a portion of a used volume of planarizing solution on the planarizing surface with fresh planarizing solution during the planarization cycle of a single substrate assembly. The used planarizing solution can be replaced with fresh planarizing solution by actively removing the used planarizing solution from the pad with a removing unit and depositing fresh planarizing solution onto the pad in the planarizing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Chopra, Scott G. Meikle
  • Patent number: 6634583
    Abstract: Process and device for dispersing a fibrous paper web which comprises a substantially consistent fibrous paper material. The device includes an inlet for fibrous paper material, a stationary stator, and at least one rotatable rotor. The stator and the at least one rotor form a pulverizing zone including a pulverizing element located near the inlet for the fibrous paper material, the pulverizing element including least one of scrapers and knives for pulverizing the fibrous material into a fine, friable material; a vapor chamber forming a ring about the pulverizing zone, the vapor chamber being for calefying the fine, friable material formed by the pulverizing element; and a dispersing zone including at least one row of teeth on the stator and at least one row of teeth on the at least one rotor which can be moved relative to the at least one row of teeth of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Almut Kriebel, Volker Niggl, Josef Schneid, Hans Schnell, Wolfgang Mannes
  • Patent number: 6634203
    Abstract: A process for the production of a can comprising a base and a tubular body from sheet metal which is coated on at least one side with a layer of plastic, in which process, firstly, a round disc is produced from the sheet metal, which disc is then deep-drawn into a cup which is coated at least on the outside with the layer of plastic, after which this cup is formed into a can by wall ironing, the wall ironing taking place in a single stroke by moving the cup successively through a plurality of wall-ironing rings, in which process an optionally metal-coated steel sheet is used as the sheet metal, and in which process the entry angle from each of the successive at lest three wall-ironing rings is smaller than that of the preceding ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Corus Staal BV
    Inventor: Hendrik Bastiaan Ras
  • Patent number: 6629876
    Abstract: An apparatus for grinding wafers includes a grind chuck, formed of a soft material having a high elastic modulus, formed on a grind table. A grind unit grinds the wafer held by the grind chuck. Deionized water is supplied onto the wafer by a supply duct. A dam is formed on the grind table to surround the grind chuck, so that the wafer and the grind unit are submerged during grinding of the wafer. Also, an exhaust hole is formed through the grind table within an area surrounded by the dam, to exhaust the deionized water from the area surrounded by the dam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bae-seung Park, Jin-heung Kim, Do-yun Hwang
  • Patent number: 6626093
    Abstract: The present invention disclosed herein provides a transportable recycling center that has a container and a partition within the container. The partition separates a work area from a storage area. An attendant may accept recyclable materials from consumers in the work area and store the recyclable material in the storage area. After the container has been filled with recyclable material, doors on the container may be secured and the container may be loaded onto a truck and transported to a recycling facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Nexcycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Van Der Touw, Mathew Millhiser, Richard Graff
  • Patent number: 6623230
    Abstract: A double seam forming apparatus for applying end units to can bodies includes a can seamer (12) with a seaming cam (46). Seaming cam (46) includes a high dwell portion (56) which deforms responsive to force encounterred by tooling during forming of a can seam. A reinforcing pin (72) limits deformation of the high dwell portion to prevent damage. The high dwell portion of the cam includes a force sensor (20) which generates a signal responsive to strain of the high dwell portion due to applied force. The apparatus further includes a monitor apparatus (28). The monitor apparatus includes a controller (30) which includes a processor and a data store (32), and a host station (38). The monitor apparatus is operative to identify seam fault conditions and to store data concerning seamer conditions. The monitor apparatus also operates a can ejector (26) to divert cans identified as having defective seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Bagheri, Jeffrey K. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 6622619
    Abstract: A rod-actuating strap control device for a strapping machine includes a rod-interacting unit composed of an actuating rod and a weight rod assembled on a rotary member and the relative action produced between the rod-interacting unit and a press rod as well as the balanced rod with cooperation of the sensing function between a sensing switch and the actuating rod to effectively control the length or amount of the packaging strap stored in a strap reserving room. The operation between the actuating rod of rod-interacting unit and the weight rod is based on a lever structure, therefore no tiredness of resilience or damage of a twisting spring may happen to them, able to prolong the service life of the machine and control the length or amount of packaging strap stored in a strap reserving room with great precision and stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Tekpak Corporation
    Inventors: Chin-Chang Liu, Chi-jan Su
  • Patent number: 6622951
    Abstract: A wood fragmenting rotor assembly has a drive shaft driving a series of radially projecting hammers. Replaceable fragmenting knives are removably secured to the leading portions of said hammers and have generally axially extending fragmenting edges. An impaling tool having a generally conical leading end is carried on the hammers radially inwardly of the edges to project a generally tangentially predetermined distance forwardly and provide an initial rigid work contacting portion ahead of and cooperating with the knife edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Mobark, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Recker, Milan W. Robison
  • Patent number: 6619195
    Abstract: Disclosed is a die press, comprising a base, opposing first and second supports extending from the base, at least one cam member that is supported by the opposing supports, means for rotating the cam member, at least one bearing located on the cam member, a platen positioned generally between the at least one bearing and the base, and a cover being unitary with the platen, the cover being slidably engaged with the opposing supports to guide the platen during operation of the die press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ellison Educational Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Corcoran, David L. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6615712
    Abstract: A mechanical press drive that uses a ballscrew apparatus to move the upper platen of a press upward and downward. A first coupling is connected to a screw of the ballscrew apparatus and connects the screw to one of a movable platen of a press or a stationary member of the press. A second coupling is connected to and couples a nut of the ballscrew apparatus to the other of the platen and the stationary member of the press. A drive motor is operably connected to one of the nut and screw and relatively rotates them to impart reciprocal motion to a movable press platen coupled to the other of the nut and screw. The two couplings cooperatively isolate the ballscrew apparatus from offset and moment loading that may occur during press operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Unova IP Corp.
    Inventors: William M. Faitel, Douglas J. Schrandt, Joseph K. Schlafhauser
  • Patent number: 6609957
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for planarizing a microelectronic-device substrate assembly on a planarizing pad. In one aspect of the invention, material is removed from the substrate assembly by pressing the substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a planarizing pad and moving the substrate assembly across the planarizing surface through a planarizing zone. The method also includes replacing at least a portion of a used volume of planarizing solution on the planarizing surface with fresh planarizing solution during the planarization cycle of a single substrate assembly. The used planarizing solution can be replaced with fresh planarizing solution by actively removing the used planarizing solution from the pad with a removing unit and depositing fresh planarizing solution onto the pad in the planarizing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Chopra, Scott G. Meikle
  • Patent number: 6609456
    Abstract: A hand held device for compressing used or empty household containers consists generally of a long, straight handle and a small non-slip base. The handle has a hole in the center to receive the top of the container. The handle has rounded points protruding from the bottom, near the hole that receives the container top. As one slowly pushes the handle downward the points push on the structure of the top of the container. This creates points of failure, and allows the container to be crushed downward in a simple, slow, smooth manner, requiring very little downward force. The non-slip base, where the container is placed before compressing, keeps the container from slipping during compression. Before the container is compressed, the cap is loosened to let air out as it compresses. Once it is compressed, the cap is tightened, so the container remains compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: Kenneth George Schneider
  • Patent number: 6607153
    Abstract: A refiner plate for the face of a refiner disc comprising a plurality of refiner segments arranged side-by-side on the face of the disc to form a substantially annular refining region. Each refiner segment has a plurality bars and grooves for refining a lignocellulosic material and forming a path for receiving and transmitting steam generated during the refining process. A plurality of dams are disposed within the grooves to retard the movement of the lignocellulosic material. A partial height portion of each dam adjacent the trailing face of the bar provides a flow path for the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Durametal Corporation
    Inventor: Luc Gingras
  • Patent number: 6604699
    Abstract: The head nut assembly for gyratory crusher which includes a shaft having a lower portion, a tapered middle portion and a threaded upper portion. The threaded upper portion extends above the tapered portion. A mantle encompasses the middle tapered portion and has a correspondingly tapered internal side. The internal side is in generally continuous supportive engagement with the shaft middle portion. The mantle additionally has an upper side. A head nut is threadably secured to the upper portion of the shaft. The head nut has a lower face, where at least one bore extends upwardly into the lower face. An annular ring is disposed around the shaft between the mantle and the head nut. The ring has a lower surface coupled with the upper side of the mantle so as to prevent relative rotational movement between the mantle and the ring. An upper surface on the ring is contiguous with the lower face of the head nut. At least one key is disposed between the head nut and the annular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Metso Minerals Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Polinski, Thomas E. Vogltanz