By Means To Initiate Movement Of Applicator Or Applicator Adjunct Patents (Class 118/680)
  • Patent number: 11919325
    Abstract: An enclosing-sealing apparatus includes a flap opener that opens a flap of an envelope while the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. A first envelope detector is disposed upstream from the flap opener in an envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction. A second envelope detector is disposed downstream from the flap opener in the envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller determines the open state of the flap based on a first detection result sent from the first envelope detector and a second detection result sent from the second envelope detector. The controller performs troubleshooting for enclosing the enclosure into the envelope if the controller determines that the open state of the flap is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Michitaka Suzuki, Shinji Asami, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Takahiro Matsuda, Makoto Hidaka, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Shingo Yoshizawa, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11383936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic height adjusting manifold, and in particular to a manifold that is adjustable to be located adjacent to a workpiece. A conveyor can have an overhead structure that supports a concealer such as a canopy or removable doors. A sizing device measures the height of a workpiece. The sizing device is outside of the work areas of the machine. A height safety is provided to make sure that no workpieces taller than the measured piece enter the machine. There are liquid bays and blowoff bays within the machine. The blowoff bay has an air knife or other manifold device. A height system is provided and is adjustable to correlate with the measured height at the sizing device. A string potentiometer can be used for an air knife position feedback to the programmable logic controller (PLC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Alliance Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Paul Brouchoud, David Nicholas van Zon, Bobby Joseph Marquardt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11370572
    Abstract: A surface treatment method and a surface treatment device 2 for a resin vessel 1 forms a coating or performs surface modification on the surface of the resin vessel 1. In a sterilized environment as well as an environment with a pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, a material for the coating or the surface modification is attached to at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the resin vessel 1, and the resin vessel 1, to which the material is attached, is irradiated with an electron beam to perform the coating or the surface modification. It is possible to form the coating or perform the surface modification on the resin vessel at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SHIBUYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Naka, Kei Matsui, Tokuo Nishi, Masanari Ejiri, Noriaki Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 10226944
    Abstract: A surface treatment repair assembly for applying a surface treatment to a contoured surface includes an attachment device configured to removably attach to the contoured surface and a robotic unit is coupled to the attachment device. Furthermore, a treating unit is operably mounted on the robotic unit and including a plurality of applicator heads forming a treatment array and each applicator head is configured to apply a surface repair treatment. At least one sensor is mounted on the treating unit and configured to identify a target area for the surface repair treatment and a controller is operably coupled to the robotic unit and the treating unit. The controller is programmed to control a movement of the robotic unit to position the treatment array adjacent to the target area and to selectively operate the treatment array to apply the surface repair treatment on the target area of the contoured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Caitlin E. Kerr, Justin T. Hoehn, Dhananjay B. Vasa, Shane E. Arthur, Bennett M. Moriarty, Matthew H. Mellin, Ryan M. Trumbo, John F. Spalding, Raymond C. Eng, Kyle S. Biondich
  • Patent number: 10023957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing a surface of a substrate by subjecting the surface to successive surface reactions of a first and second precursor. The apparatus includes a nozzle head having two or more precursor nozzles and a moving mechanism for moving the nozzle head in non-linear oscillating movement in a first and second movement direction between a first extreme position and a second extreme position via a center position. The moving mechanism includes first driving means for accelerating the nozzle head in the first moving direction and decelerating the nozzle head in the second moving direction and second driving means for accelerating the nozzle head in the second moving direction and decelerating the nozzle head in the first moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: BENEQ OY
    Inventors: Mika Jauhiainen, Pekka Soininen
  • Patent number: 9284027
    Abstract: A lift receives a boat to be washed. The lift has a forward end, a rearward end, and an intermediate extent. The lift also has a first side with lift pilings and a second side with lift pilings. A pump feeds water from a water tank to a plurality of spray heads on each side of the lift. Controls at the lift pilings adjacent to the first side include a driver to move the boat between first and second positions and an optical sensor to sense the presence of the boat to be washed and to activate and inactivate the pump for the washing of the boat as it is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Gerhard G. Kalke
  • Patent number: 9016232
    Abstract: A paper coater includes a frame, an entry guide roll and an exit guide roll both carried by the frame and along a path of travel of a continuous paper sheet. The paper coater includes independently controllable hot wax applicators carried by the frame between the entry and exit guide rolls. Each independently controllable hot wax applicator includes a press roll, an engraved applicator roll opposite the press roll so that the continuous paper sheet is therebetween, and with the engraved applicator roll extending into a hot wax reservoir to pick up hot wax. Each wax applicator includes a doctor blade adjacent the engraved applicator roll to control a thickness of hot wax. At least one selectively operable positioner relatively moves the press and engraved applicator rolls between active and idle positions. The paper coater provides different wax application rates and can be reconfigured relatively quickly between different application rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Profero Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Jones, Oscar Eberhard, Kenneth I. Park
  • Publication number: 20150101277
    Abstract: A marking device for marking a truss element of a truss may include a print mechanism arranged to print selected truss information on lumber elements moving on a conveyance system passed the print mechanism, the selected truss information including one of an element identifying truss diagram, a truss plate location, and an intersecting member identifier, a position sensing device configured to sense the position of the lumber relative to the print mechanism, and a computing component, the computing component including a geometry extraction module for extracting the geometry of the element to be marked, an element marking generator for generating print instructions for the selected truss information, a position sensing module for interfacing with the position sensing device to ascertain the position of the lumber element, and a print control module for controlling the print mechanism to print the selected truss information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Edward D. Serrano
  • Patent number: 8944001
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of determining a position of a height sensor in a dispensing system. The dispensing system includes a dispenser, height sensor, camera, and a calibration device configured to receive a signal from the height sensor. The calibration device may include an optical sensor that generates an alignment signal in response to receiving light from the height sensor and/or a fiducial that causes the height sensor to generate the alignment signal in response to a detected height change. The alignment signal is used to automatically determine the position at which the height sensor is aligned with the calibration device. The position of the height sensor relative to a camera is determined by aligning the camera with the calibration device and recording its position. The recorded coordinates of the camera are compared to the coordinates of the height sensor when the height sensor is automatically aligned with the calibration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd S. Weston
  • Patent number: 8889551
    Abstract: A deposition device includes a deposition source for discharging a deposition material to be deposited on a substrate, an angle control member at least partly in a discharging path of the deposition material for controlling a discharging angle of the deposition material, and an angle control member driver coupled to the angle control member, the angle control member driver for moving the angle control member in a discharging direction of the deposition material to control the discharging angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8875648
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Sass Somekh, Eliyahu Vronsky
  • Patent number: 8820378
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Lee H. Angros
  • Patent number: 8722152
    Abstract: A wet processing apparatus for wet-processing substrates can suppress the reduction of throughput when some component part thereof becomes unserviceable. The wet processing apparatus includes a first nozzle unit and a second nozzle unit. When the wet processing apparatus operates in a normal mode, a substrate carrying mechanism is controlled so as to deliver substrates alternately to processing units of a first group and those of a second group so that the substrates are processed sequentially in order. When the processing units of the first group (the second group) are unserviceable due to the inoperativeness of the substrate holders, a processing liquid supply system or a nozzle support mechanism, the nozzle unit for the processing units of the second group (the first group) is moved to process substrates by the serviceable ones of the first group (the second group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Naofumi Kishita, Kouji Fujimura, Yoshitaka Hara
  • Patent number: 8685487
    Abstract: A coating method and a coating apparatus are used to apply coating material to struts of a medical device (e.g., stent) which bound openings. The method involves optically scanning the medical device to produce position information identifying positions of the struts, using the position information to calculate a predetermined position, setting an applying manner to apply the coating material based on the predetermined position, setting an applying path accommodating the applying manner, and relatively moving the medical device and an applicator head along the applying route and path while dispensing the coating material from the applicator head and applying the coating material to the struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shori Kindaichi, Yasukazu Harada, Kazuyuki Takeda
  • Patent number: 8267039
    Abstract: To provide a coating apparatus and a coating method capable of accurately control the coating width of a coating liquid on an article to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Ishizu, Hiroshi Oyama
  • Patent number: 8166913
    Abstract: In the present invention, a substrate is first rotated at a first rotation speed, and a resist solution is applied to the rotated substrate. Subsequently, the rotation of the substrate is decelerated to a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed so that the substrate is rotated at the low speed to smooth the resist solution on the substrate. The rotation of the substrate is then accelerated to a third rotation speed higher than the second rotation speed, and a solvent for the coating solution and/or a dry gas are/is supplied to the resist solution on the substrate. In this event, the solvent gas is supplied to a portion of the resist solution on the substrate thicker than a set thickness, and the dry gas is supplied to a portion of the coating solution on the substrate thinner than the set thickness. This thins the thicker portion of the resist solution and thickens the thinner portion to uniform the resist solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8156893
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of fabricating a color filter using an ink-jet technique includes inclining an ink-jet head having a plurality of nozzles at a predetermined angle, moving the ink-jet head in a lengthwise direction of the color filter that is divided into a plurality of working regions, ejecting color ink into a plurality of pixels, moving the ink-jet head to the other adjacent working region after a work in a predetermined working region is completed, and ejecting color ink, wherein the ink-jet head is symmetrically arranged with its mirror-image in adjacent working regions and thereby ejecting the color ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-il Kim, Seung-joo Shin, Sung-woong Kim
  • Patent number: 7992516
    Abstract: A phosphor layer forming apparatus (1) in which a paste (21) containing a phosphor is discharged so as to cover each of a plurality of light-emitting elements (11) mounted on a substrate (10) includes the following: a discharge portion (12) for discharging the paste (21) in the form of droplets onto each of the light-emitting elements (11); a measurement portion (13) for measuring the thickness of individual phosphor layers that are formed of the paste (21) covering each of the light-emitting elements (11); and a discharge control portion (14) for controlling the amount of the paste (21) to be redischarged for each phosphor layer in accordance with the thickness of the individual phosphor layers measured by the measurement portion (13). This phosphor layer forming apparatus can reduce the manufacturing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shida, Hiroyuki Naito, Noriyasu Tanimoto, Yasuharu Ueno, Makoto Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7981462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying paints or varnishes with the aid of an application device in order to apply a color design on surfaces of buildings or public or civil engineering works in accordance with a previously executed implementation of a digital image model in a previously recorded digital surface object that represents the surface of the object. According to the invention, the application device moves on the surface of the object while contacting the surface thereof, the position of the application device is continuously measured or calculated using motion sensors and paint is applied in accordance with said implementation depending on the position thus determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Burkhard Büstgens
  • Patent number: 7963245
    Abstract: A liquid application device includes a rotating unit for rotating an application member to apply liquid to a medium in contact with the application member, a liquid application unit including the application member, and a retention member for retaining liquid in a sealed liquid retention space formed to be in contact with the application member. The liquid application unit applies the liquid retained in the liquid retention space to the medium via the application member by rotating the application member. In addition, a control unit controls the rotating unit, wherein the control unit controls, after receiving information of instruction on applying liquid to the medium, the rotating unit to rotate, before the application member contacts the medium, the application member so that the rotating unit performs a preliminary rotation that forms a pool of the liquid in an area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naomi Oshio, Osamu Iwasaki, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsuhiko Masuyama, Naoji Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7860588
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for positioning a feeder needle, and to a production line for optical components, in which a feeder needle of an apparatus for portioning fluid material, preferably softened glass, in particular of a needle feeder, has its position relative to a seat for the feeder needle recorded by means of a force-measuring device, and to further apparatuses which realize this method and to objects produced by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Ralf Bonitz, Peter Duerolf
  • Patent number: 7823536
    Abstract: An automatic waxing apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The automatic waxing apparatus includes a movable door-shaped module, at least a waxing module and a controlling module. The movable door-shaped module includes a door-shaped structure capable of moving with respect to the vehicle. The waxing module disposed on the door-shaped structure includes a wax-supplying unit and a wax-polishing unit. The controlling module is coupled to the door-shaped structure, the wax-supplying unit and the wax-polishing unit. The controlling module, according to the information of the vehicle, determines a moving path of the door-shaped structure, a waxing path of the wax-supplying unit, and a polishing path of the wax-polishing unit with respect to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hung-Chiao Cheng, Chia-Ming Liu, Ma-Tien Yang, Buh-Shiuh Teng
  • Patent number: 7815965
    Abstract: A microdeposition system microdeposits droplets of fluid material to define a feature pattern on a substrate. The feature pattern for the substrate is defined. A mask is created for the feature pattern that reduces a density of defects that occur due to a malfunctioning nozzle of the microdeposition head. The droplets of fluid material are microdeposited onto the substrate based on the mask to define sub-features of the feature pattern. One of the nozzles of the microdeposition head is assigned to each of the sub-features in the feature pattern. The nozzles may be assigned randomly or using other functions. The assigned nozzles in the mask are assigned to one of a plurality of passes of the microdeposition head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles O. Edwards, David Albertalli
  • Patent number: 7709048
    Abstract: A method and device, for use in an operating theater just prior to implantation, for selectively applying a medical coating to an implantable medical device. Disclosed is a device for use with a stent deployed on a catheter balloon configured to apply a medical coating of a desired thickness to the surface of the stent only. A drop-on-demand inkjet printing system in association with an optical scanning device is described. The device is further configured to apply a plurality of layered coats, each layered coat being of a different coating material, and if appropriate, different thickness and to coat a portion of the medical device as a function of its geometric configuration. The coating is applied by moving an applicator over the device in a path that is independent of the deposited coating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Labcoat, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eyal Teichman, Avner Schrift
  • Patent number: 7611754
    Abstract: A microdeposition system microdeposit droplets of fluid material to define a feature pattern on a substrate. The feature pattern for the substrate is defined. A mask is created for the feature pattern that reduces a density of defects that occur due to a malfunctioning nozzle of the microdeposition head. The droplets of fluid material are microdeposited onto the substrate based on the mask to define subfeatures of the feature pattern. One of the nozzles of the microdeposition head is assigned to each of the sub-features in the feature pattern. The nozzles may be assigned randomly or using other functions. The assigned nozzles in the mask are assigned to one of a plurality of passes of the microdeposition head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: ULVAC, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles O. Edwards, David Albertalli
  • Patent number: 7582164
    Abstract: A tire dressing system for efficiently and accurately applying tire dressing to vehicle tires. The tire dressing system generally includes a support unit, a spray unit movably positioned within the support unit, an actuator unit connected to the spray unit, a tire sensor to determine the size of a vehicle tire, and a tire position sensor to determine the location of the vehicle tire. The spray unit includes a hollow cone nozzle telescopically supported within the spray unit to adjust the spray pattern applied to the sidewall of the vehicle tire depending upon the size of the vehicle tire. After the size of the vehicle tire is determined, the proximity of the hollow cone nozzle is adjusted to apply the desired spray pattern to the sidewall. The hollow cone nozzle then applies the dressing to the sidewall of the vehicle tire as the vehicle moves by the spray unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Cleaning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Krause, Forrest R. Burton
  • Patent number: 7547362
    Abstract: A dispenser for a liquid crystal display panel includes a syringe having a nozzle provided at an end thereof, a body in which the syringe is mounted, a vertical driving stepping motor for moving the body in a vertical direction, a first sensor for detecting whether the nozzle of the syringe is in contact with a substrate, a second sensor for detecting a gap distance between the nozzle and the substrate, and a main unit for controlling the vertical driving stepping motor in response to an output from the second sensor to obtain a desired gap distance between the nozzle and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Su Jung, Yong-Keun Kwak
  • Publication number: 20090145356
    Abstract: A supporting device includes a suction base having a central base body interconnecting opposite suction units operable between non-sucking and sucking states. A supporting unit includes a rod-mounting seat having a connecting end portion disposed in a pivot groove in a top side of the central base body and connected pivotally to the central base body, and a mounting end portion disposed outwardly of the pivot groove and mounted rotatably with a supporting rod therein. The rod-mounting seat is positioned adjustably at a desired angular position relative to the central base body. A gun-mounting unit is mounted on the supporting rod, and is mounted with an air spray gun thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Jet C. Lai
  • Publication number: 20090047481
    Abstract: A method and system for garment manufacture fixes a curable polymer in either a continuous bead or in a non-continuous or segmented bead onto a cut fabric piece. The cut fabric piece, the continuous bead and the non-continuous, segmented bead have a wide array of configurations. If the cut fabric piece has a contoured edge region, a silicone bead proximate that edge has a conforming configuration. In the method, the cut fabric piece is placed in a coordinate space. The location of the cut fabric piece is sensed and that information is used to control the movement of a curable polymer dispenser. The dispenser applies a curable polymer from the curable polymer dispenser onto the cut fabric piece in the desired configuration after which the polymer is cured. If the fabric is cotton, the curable polymer is drawn into the cotton fibers prior to cure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Cupid Foundations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Welsch, Anthony Angelino
  • Patent number: 7488505
    Abstract: When a coating film is formed on a substrate, the inplane uniformity of the thickness of the coating film is enhanced to improve through put. Above the substrate, there are provided main and auxiliary nozzles separately movable, and monitoring means for monitoring the state of the surface of the substrate to detect the occurrence of an uncoated region on the surface of the substrate. On the basis of previously prepared coating data, a coating liquid is spirally applied on the substrate by the main nozzle. Then, if the monitoring means detects the occurrence of the uncoated region in a coated region in which the coating liquid has been applied by the main nozzle, a control part detects whether it is required to supply the coating liquid to the uncoated region. If it is required, the coating liquid is supplied to the uncoated region by the auxiliary nozzle. On the other hand, the portion of occurrence of the uncoated region has been grasped by the control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomohide Minami, Shinichi Sugimoto, Takahiro Kitano, Jun Ookura, Hiroaki Kurishima
  • Patent number: 7488388
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a flat panel display device includes a substrate on which a picture display section is formed and a stage on which the substrate is loaded. A dispenser applies a sealant along an outer line of the picture display section in the substrate. A light detector emits light toward the sealant and detects the amount of reflected light in real-time. A controller detects broken lines in the sealant in accordance with a signal supplied from the light detector and controls the dispenser so as to re-apply the sealant to spaces in the broken line in which the sealant is not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Choon Ryu, Hae Joon Son
  • Patent number: 7488389
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus by which uniform and large area films can be formed according to the AD method. The film forming apparatus includes: a film forming chamber; a substrate holder located in the film forming chamber, for holding a substrate on which a structure is to be formed; an exhaust pump for exhausting an interior of the film forming chamber; an aerosol generating unit for generating an aerosol by blowing up a raw material powder placed in a container with a gas; a carrier pipe for introducing the generated aerosol into the film forming chamber; a nozzle for spraying the aerosol introduced via the carrier pipe toward the substrate; and a control unit for chaotically changing a relative position of the substrate held by the substrate holder and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Osawa
  • Publication number: 20090007845
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an adhesive dispenser configured to apply an adhesive to an edge of a moving substrate. The mounting system includes a support post and a main body. The main body is configured to support the adhesive dispenser and is coupled to the support post, with the main body being configured to deflect the adhesive dispenser in a first direction and in a second direction transverse to the first direction upon contact of the substrate with the adhesive dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles P. Ganzer, Scott D. Walker
  • Publication number: 20070215045
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coating film forming apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 includes a coating unit 11, a coating material supply unit 10, and a control unit 12. The coating unit 11 contains a holding unit 18 for holding a substrate 4, a coating nozzle 19, and a movable unit 20. The coating nozzle 19 is provided with a slit for discharge coating material to an inner circumferential surface, formed in annular shape. The movable unit 20 moves the coating nozzle 19 along a shaft center P of the substrate 4. The control unit 12 controls to apply coating material 7 to an outer circumferential surface 4c of the substrate 4 from a lower end 4a upward in order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Michitaka HIGAKI, Takayuki Yoshii, Yasuomi Mikami, Kentaroh Yajima
  • Patent number: 7094292
    Abstract: A mechanism and method for depositing oil paints, acrylics, or other textural paints provides a means for automating the process of painting a picture. The process can be programmed into a data base which is stored and used at will, or the artist can utilize control means such as a joy stick to provide real-time input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventors: John N. Randall, Christian H. Seidler, Charles D. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7090726
    Abstract: A pair of hoses connects directly from the feed pumps to the extruder without utilizing a PCV (pressure compensating valve). Each feed unit has automatic air pressure relief through a solenoid valve on top of the feed unit so that the unit does not stall at full static line pressure. When the dispense valve at the extruder is shut off, air pressure to the air motor is dumped. A pair of electric eyes is utilized—the first signals the pump (by providing pressurized air) to provide pressure while the second actually opens the extruder when the article to be coated comes into position. The first valve is located only a short distance ahead of the second valve so that the line pressure does not have a chance to exceed the dynamic pressure before the extruder opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: J. Robert Degenkolb, William A. Stusek
  • Patent number: 7063747
    Abstract: A coating control system and method for monitoring and potentially adjusting system at least one spray property at various stages of the painting process, thereby also providing an efficient set-up and monitoring process involving less manual labor, less waste, and less harmful exhaust to the atmosphere, wherein the coating control system includes at least one spray gun, at least one light emitting source and at least one receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Eric J. Lastowka
  • Patent number: 7045167
    Abstract: A device for the application of solid particulate material to a target surface includes one or more containers for storing the solid particulate material and one or more transfer devices for transferring the solid particulate material from the containers to the target surface. Each container includes one or more gates positioned substantially at the container's outlet. Mechanisms are provided for controlling the extent to which each individual gate opens, while the device is in use; and for controlling the rate at which the transfer devices transfer the solid particulate material from the containers while the device for the application of solid particulate material to a target surface is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: J&K Development LLC
    Inventors: James Nelson Maytum, Simon Charles Peter Jennings, Philip Kearne
  • Patent number: 7025830
    Abstract: A coating apparatus and method are disclosed in which even if poor coating occurs in a lower-layer, no poor coating occurs in an upper-layer formed on the lower-layer. A pre-wet liquid coating device is disposed between a first coating device at the upstream side of a support web conveying direction, and a second coating device disposed at the downstream side. When an uncoated portion is formed by the first coating device, a pre-wet liquid is coated by a pre-wet liquid coating device, and the coating liquid can be reliably coated by the second coating device. When the pre-wet liquid coating device is removed from the support web, first, the pre-wet liquid coating device is brought into liquid-running out state, and thereafter, removed from the support web. Accordingly, the pool of pre-wet liquid is eliminated and occurrence of a thickly coated portion on the support web can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin Kanke
  • Patent number: 7001464
    Abstract: A glazing apparatus to glaze a window or door sash is described that includes a nozzle and a gear metering assembly. The metering assembly creates a flow of glazing material through the nozzle at a controlled rate such that the rate of flow of glazing material from the nozzle is proportional to a distance that the nozzle travels across the sash. The invention also allows the production of a finished window or door from precut glass and a pre-assembled sash at a single manufacturing station. The invention largely eliminates the effect of operator skill and experience on the quality of the finished product by evenly depositing sealant on the window frame as well as desiccant within a channel formed in the window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Erdman Automation Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney V. Erdman, Nicholas J. Dahmen, Paul A. Van Kempen
  • Patent number: 6939407
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a color filter having a plurality of filter elements aligned in a dot-matrix on a substrate. The method has a first-scanning step of moving the inkjet head having a nozzle line including a plurality of nozzles relative to the substrate while selectively discharging a filter material from the plurality of nozzles so as to form filter elements on filter element forming regions of the substrate and a second-scanning step of moving the inkjet head by a second-scanning distance ? in a second-scanning direction. The plurality of nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups and the first-scanning step and the second-scanning step are repeated so that all the nozzle groups scan the same section of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Kawase, Hisashi Aruga, Satoru Katagami, Masaharu Shimizu, Hiroshi Kiguchi
  • Patent number: 6923866
    Abstract: An apparatus for depositing droplets on a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support for the substrate, a droplet ejection assembly which includes a pumping chamber, a controller and a source of static pressure to maintain the total pressure in the pumping chamber above a threshold pressure level to avoid rectified diffusion type bubble growth in the pumping chamber. The droplet ejection assembly is positioned over the support for depositing the droplets on the substrate and includes, in addition to a pumping chamber, a displacement member and an orifice that ejects the droplets. The controller provides signals to the displacement member to eject drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Spectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Hoisington, Melvin L. Biggs, Steven H. Barss
  • Patent number: 6911089
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a work piece. The system comprising an applicator adapted to travel over a portion of the work piece. The system being operable to heat the work piece and/or apply a coating onto the work piece as the applicator travels over the work piece. The system may comprise an induction heating system to heat the work piece. The system may be adapted to apply a variety of coatings, such as a liquid coating and a dry powder coating. The applicator being operable to heat the work piece prior to applying the coating or heating the work piece after the coating has been applied. The applicator may also be adapted to apply heat to heat shrink a coating material onto the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Latvis
  • Patent number: 6776845
    Abstract: When a coating film is formed on a substrate, the inplane uniformity of the thickness of the coating film is enhanced to improve through put. Above the substrate, there are provided main and auxiliary nozzles separately movable, and monitoring means for monitoring the state of the surface of the substrate to detect the occurrence of an uncoated region on the surface of the substrate. On the basis of previously prepared coating data, a coating liquid is spirally applied on the substrate by the main nozzle. Then, if the monitoring means detects the occurrence of the uncoated region in a coated region in which the coating liquid has been applied by the main nozzle, a control part detects whether it is required to supply the coating liquid to the uncoated region. If it is required, the coating liquid is supplied to the uncoated region by the auxiliary nozzle. On the other hand, the portion of occurrence of the uncoated region has been grasped by the control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomohide Minami, Shinichi Sugimoto, Takahiro Kitano, Jun Ookura, Hiroaki Kurishima
  • Patent number: 6749688
    Abstract: A coating apparatus has a spin chuck for attracting and holding a semiconductor wafer in a horizontal state by means of vacuum. A movable beam is arranged above the spin chuck. The movable beam includes first and second nozzles integrally formed. The first nozzle is used for supplying a photo-resist liquid while the second nozzle is used for supplying a solvent for the photo-resist liquid. When a coating process is performed, the movable beam above the wafer is horizontally moved in one direction. The solvent is first supplied onto the wafer from the second nozzle, and the coating or photo-resist liquid is then supplied from the first nozzle, following the solvent. Wettability of the wafer relative to the photo-resist is increased by the solvent, prior to supply of the photo-resist liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kiyohisa Tateyama, Kimio Motoda, Noriyuki Anai
  • Patent number: 6645547
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and device, which is suitable for use in an operating theater just prior to implantation, for selectively applying a medical coating to an implantable medical device, for example a stent. Disclosed is a device for use with a stent deployed on a catheter balloon. The device is configured to apply a medical coating of a desired thickness to the surface of a stent only. This is done by use of a drop-on-demand ink-jet printing system in association with an optical scanning device. The device is further configured so as to, if necessary, apply a plurality of layered coats, each layered coat being of a different coating material, and if appropriate, different thickness. The section of the housing in which the stent is held during the coating procedure is detachable from the housing base. The detachable housing section may be easily cleaned and re-sterilized or simply disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Labcoat Ltd.
    Inventors: Avraham Shekalim, Ascher Shmulewitz
  • Patent number: 6626996
    Abstract: A pizza sauce dispenser simultaneously dispenses and spreads a precisely controlled amount of sauce onto a pizza dough base without manually handling the sauce or the dough during operation. The dispenser includes a selectively rotatable disc and an arm that selectively extends over the disc. At lease one nozzle is supported by the arm and selectively dispenses the sauce onto the dough. A control mechanism controls: (1) a selected rate and direction of disc rotation; (2) a selected pivot rate and direction of the arm; and/or (3) a selected rate of dispensing sauce through the nozzle. In use, with pizza dough placed on the disc, the disc is rotated and the arm pivoted over the dough so that the nozzle traverses a path from the outside edge of the dough to the center of the dough or vice versa. Sauce thus is deposited in a spiral or other desirable pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Pizza Hut, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Amigh, Homero Ortegon
  • Patent number: 6620244
    Abstract: When a resist film is formed by discharging a resist solution onto the front face of a wafer housed in a cup, a relation between the film thickness of a resist film and the line width of a circuit pattern when the resist film is exposed into a predetermined pattern and thereafter developed is obtained in advance, from that relation, a line width with less variations corresponding to the changes in film thickness of the resist film is selected from among line widths within a designated region to form a resist film to have the film thickness corresponding to the selected line width. Accordingly, the line width of the circuit pattern after development is not likely to vary regardless of the changes in film thickness of the resist film formed on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kosuke Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 6613150
    Abstract: A coating machine includes a conveyor surface that receives and carries a stringer toward a downstream end of the conveyor. An engagement mechanism forces the stringer against the conveyor surface. An applicator mechanism coats the stringer with a coating material during a discharge mode. The discharge mode occurs while a stringer within the coating machine is in a predetermined position. A retention mode occurs while there is not a stringer in the predetermined position within the coating machine. A motor drives the conveyor surface at a first speed during the discharge mode, and at a second speed that is slower than the first speed during the retention mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary L. Calvert, Norman Charles Eggleston
  • Patent number: 6592672
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coating a concavity of a building board. The apparatus includes a conveyor for transferring the building board and one or more coating nozzles for paint jetting a coating to the concavity formed in a surface of the building board. Each of the one or more coating nozzles is a jetting nozzle including a center jetting orifice, which is for jetting paint as a regulated jet in the form of a paint membrane, and one or more air-jet orifices, which are for jetting air along one or both of right and left edges of said paint membrane. The coating nozzles are controlled based on information of a cross-sectional geometry in crosswise direction of the concavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nichiha Corporation
    Inventor: Daizo Mizuno