With Measuring, Testing, Or Inspecting Patents (Class 156/64)
  • Patent number: 11972976
    Abstract: A planarization system comprises a substrate chuck configured to hold a substrate, a superstrate chuck configured to hold a superstrate, a planarizing head configured to support the superstrate chuck, a positioning system configured to cause the superstrate to come into contact with formable material dispensed on the substrate to form a multilayer structure, the multilayer structure including the superstrate, a film of the formable material, and the substrate, and an annular light source disposed between an upper end of the planarizing head and the substrate chuck. The annular light source is configured to emit light onto an outer annular region of the multilayer structure without emitting the light onto an inner central region of the multilayer structure. The inner central region is located radially inward relative to the outer annular region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Byung-Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 11946862
    Abstract: A method for in-line analysis of a composite product, wherein a hyperspectral sensor is used to acquire images of samples of target materials that are part of the composite product, in order to perform an in-line optical inspection at process speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventors: Anselmo Cicchitti, Enrico Iavazzo
  • Patent number: 11935773
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for calibrating a height-adjustable edge ring are described herein. In one example, a calibration jig for positioning an edge ring relative to a reference surface is provided that includes a transparent plate, a plurality of sensors coupled to a first side of the transparent plate, and a plurality of contact pads coupled to an opposing second side of the transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Myles, Denis M. Koosau, Peter Muraoka, Phillip A. Criminale
  • Patent number: 11873130
    Abstract: A robotic labeling system includes a package locating system, a package identification system having a scanning device configured to scan an identification tag on the package to identify an orientation of the package in the labeling station, and a label application system including a label printer and a label applicator. The label printer prints at least one label for the package. The label applicator includes a multi-axis robot having an arm movable in three-dimensional space. The label applicator has a portrait end effector coupled to the arm configured to transport the label from the label printer to the package in a portrait orientation. The label applicator has a landscape end effector coupled to the arm configured to transport the label from the label printer to the package in a landscape orientation. The label applicator is operated based on the orientation of the package in the labeling station as determined by the scanning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Du Wen, Edward T. Price, III, Hung Nguyen, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Jiankun Zhou
  • Patent number: 11836397
    Abstract: A method and system for operating an industrial printer includes obtaining initial data that indicates the industrial printer used on a production line at a facility and a product to be output. Target data is obtained indicating target start time and target number of the product and target duration. The industrial printer is operated to report a count of print operations for the product at regular time intervals. Actual data is stored indicating the count and the time interval. Upon a condition, a line report is determined based on the count and the target data. The line report is presented on a display device. The condition is one or more of passage of the target duration after the target start time, passage of the target duration after a first print operation, a change in shift workers on the production line, a time of day, and a predetermined event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: Robert V. Weaver, Robert K. Neagle, Randy Fischer
  • Patent number: 11813765
    Abstract: A cutting system for cutting sheets of material can automatically transfer original registration marks or other indicia from one side of the material to an opposite side, in direct alignment with the original registration marks or other indicia. The cutting system includes a cutting station, a feed station, and a registration transfer system between the feed and cutting stations. The registration transfer system includes a camera or other detector that moves in unison with a pen or other marker-type device to respectively detect the original registration marks or other indicia and apply a registration marks or other indicia on the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Infinite-Motion Control, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Stark
  • Patent number: 11807538
    Abstract: A method for removing phosphorus and boron impurities in an industrial silicon melt by secondary refining is provided. According to the present disclosure, inorganic zinc chloride is adopted as an impurity removal medium and is quickly decomposed into zinc and chloride ions at high temperatures; the phosphorus and boron impurities can react with the zinc and chloride ions to yield low-melting and high-melting compounds during contact with a silicon melt, the low-melting compounds volatilize and escape from the industrial silicon melt at the high temperature of the secondary refining. The high-melting compounds are segregated at the grain boundary along with silicon solidification and removed by crushing and pickling, or sink to the very bottom of the silicon melt and are removed by cutting off a deposition layer at a bottom of a silicon ingot after the silicon melt is solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CHENGDU UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Dawei Luo, Ke Rong, Zijie Gao, Jiabao Deng
  • Patent number: 11791182
    Abstract: A measuring method includes measuring a displacement A1, placing an imaging unit 20 at a position where the imaging unit is allowed to image a measurement mark MI and imaging the measurement mark M1. In the measuring of the displacement A1, the displacement A1 of a surface of a combined substrate, which is composed of two sheets of substrates bonded to each other, on a side of the imaging unit 20 at a position where the measurement mark M1 for position deviation measurement, which is provided within the combined substrate, is placed is measured. In the imaging of the measurement mark M1, the measurement mark M1 is imaged by the imaging unit 20 while putting the measurement mark M1 in focus by moving a focal position back and forth with respect to a focal position which is previously set based on the displacement A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuji Mimura, Shigeto Tsuruta, Eiji Manabe, Hisanori Hizume
  • Patent number: 11791305
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a manufacturing apparatus includes: a storage configured to store a work; a transfer arm configured to transfer the work; a hot bath configured to store a liquid; a mounting table configured to mount the work in the hot bath; and an upper arm configured to apply pressure to the work mounted on the mounting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sho Kawadahara
  • Patent number: 11780216
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a display device and a method for manufacturing a display device. The apparatus for manufacturing a display device includes a frame; a guide member installed on the frame; a clamp including a pair of clamp members installed on the guide member; and a rotation unit configured to rotate the frame to change a relative position of each clamp member with respect to the frame. The clamp member includes a suction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Hun Ju, Sang Cheol Kim, Suk Ju Kang
  • Patent number: 11760526
    Abstract: A labeling device includes: a robot having articulated arms with arm sections that are articulated: together, to a robot base, and to a platform of a label pickup device. The pickup device has a base plate and a plunger. The plunger has a fixed portion mounted to the base plate and is not displaceable relative to the base plate in a longitudinal direction, has a portion that is movable in the fixed portion in the longitudinal direction toward the base plate to a retracted position, and has an end configured to pick up a label. A pressure regulator of the plunger breaks a negative pressure in the plunger. The plunger's fixed portion covers an opening of its movable portion in a gas-tight manner by of the when the movable portion in an extended position and which is not covered when in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BIZERBA SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Pries, Konstantin Rempel, Winai Namsuk, Christian Schelle, Jonas Lauer
  • Patent number: 11752727
    Abstract: A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone, and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire, or be disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire can have connected thereto, a source of power that is an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loop. The heating wire ay be an NiCr wire and make intermittent contact with the web and be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone, or includes a heat film, a toothed blade, a row of pins, a source of air, or a source of vacuum. The sealing zones ma include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or hated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: CMD Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Selle, Kenneth C. Radtke, Charles H. Sauder, Paul A. Johnson, Christopher L. White, Arvid R. Johnson, Gregory T. Prellwitz, Michael J. Stickney, Thomas C. Jansen, Christopher A. Saucier, Terry L. Leitzke, Bradley J. Schmoll
  • Patent number: 11745969
    Abstract: A sheet space-detecting device detects a space between a rear end of a preceding first fiber reinforced plastic sheet and a front end of a following second fiber reinforced plastic sheet in a conveyance path for fiber reinforced plastic sheets and includes: a light-detecting sensor that projects detection light on an area including the rear end of the first fiber reinforced plastic sheet, the front end of the second fiber reinforced plastic sheet, and a reference surface exposed from the space and receives reflected light thereof; and a spacer that supports the rear end of the first fiber reinforced plastic sheet and the front end of the second fiber reinforced plastic sheet in a state where the rear end and the front end are separated from the reference surface, in an area including at least a light-projected area on which the detection light is projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro Suzuki, Kensuke Hirata, Yoshiyuki Wada, Hironori Yui, Itaru Dairaku
  • Patent number: 11745449
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of improving paste flow during the manufacture of wind turbine blades are provided. When the first turbine blade half is aligned with the second turbine blade half, a gap is formed between the first shell and the bond cap. The assembly includes a first mold half corresponding to the first turbine blade half and a second mold half corresponding to the second turbine blade half. When the first mold is aligned with the second mold, a second gap is formed. A first barrier is disposed within the first gap and a second barrier disposed within the second gap thereby fluidly sealing a volume defined by the first gap and the second gap to direct adhesive paste flow along the blade span between the adjoining leading and trailing edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Amir Salimi, Christopher Raine
  • Patent number: 11738962
    Abstract: An apparatus for splicing comprises a first web support surface configured to support a traveling web thereon and a second web support surface configured to support a replacement web thereon. The first traveling web travels in a machine direction. The splicing assembly also comprises a first web sensor and a web joiner. A controller is configured to determine, via the first web sensor, a position of a trailing end of the traveling web and to, in response to determining the position of the trailing end, cause a leading end of the replacement web to be positioned adjacently to the trailing end. The computer is also configured to control the web joiner to create a joint coupling the trailing end to the leading end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CURT G. JOA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nelson, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Lloyd F. Kreif, Phillip J. Kocken
  • Patent number: 11731416
    Abstract: A method of making the asphalt shingles includes applying a substrate to a layer of shingle-forming material, the substrate having indicators at predetermined spaced-apart distances, with the indicators being sensed as the shingle-forming layer is moved along a predetermined path, with adhesive zones being applied to the shingle such that the application of the adhesive zones is synchronized in response to sensing the locations of the indicators, and with the shingle-forming layer then being cut into individual shingles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 11724463
    Abstract: A non-destructive, non-invasive method for inspection of bonding patterns of packages for products, such as patches or medicated patches, involves thermally probing the packages and the bonding patterns and retrieving a thermal response thereof. The inspection is based in the analysis of the thermal response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventor: Anselmo Cicchitti
  • Patent number: 11724844
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sealing device including a sonotrode for sealing a packaging material, including a piezoelectric transducer to generate ultrasonic acoustic vibrations for the sealing, a housing, a power circuit connected to the piezoelectric transducer. The power circuit is enclosed in the housing, and an absorbent arranged in the housing to absorb moisture in an atmosphere therein to lower humidity. A method of controlling humidity in an ultrasonic sealing device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Soci, Luca Gentili, Fabrizio Sighinolfi, Massimiliano Barbi
  • Patent number: 11721596
    Abstract: A parameter adjustment method includes an acquisition process and a parameter changing process. The acquisition process acquires, from an inspection apparatus configured to inspect a combined substrate in which the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded by the bonding apparatus, an inspection result indicating a direction and a degree of distortion occurring in the combined substrate. The parameter changing process changes at least one of multiple parameters including at least one of the gap, an attraction pressure of the first substrate by the first holder, an attraction pressure of the second substrate by the second holder or a pressing force on the first substrate by the striker, based on trend information indicating a tendency of a change in the direction and the degree of the distortion when each of the multiple parameters is changed and the inspection result acquired in the acquiring of the inspection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Norifumi Kohama
  • Patent number: 11713154
    Abstract: A system for labeling a reel of electrical components includes an automated robotic manipulator movable between a reel grasping position and a reel releasing position; a sensor positioned to scan a label on a reel as the reel is moved by manipulator from the reel grasping position to the reel releasing position, to gather initial reel information; a label generator configured to generate a new label with information based at least in part on the initial reel information; and a label actuator positioned to affix the new label to the reel as the reel remains held by the manipulator. The sensor may be a barcode scanner. The label generator may be a label printer. The label actuator may be a pneumatic actuator. The system may also have a stack of reels to be labeled. Also included is output receptacle to receive the reel after the new label is affixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Accu-Assembly Incorporated
    Inventor: Yuen-Foo Michael Kou
  • Patent number: 11685130
    Abstract: There is provided a method that includes directing one or more infrared cameras at a compaction roller of a composite laying head of a composite layup machine. The one or more infrared cameras are mounted aft of the compaction roller. The method includes applying heat to a substrate by a heater. The heater is mounted forward of the compaction roller. The method further includes using the one or more infrared cameras, to obtain one or more infrared images of the compaction roller, during laying down of one or more composite tows of a composite layup onto the substrate by the compaction roller. The method further includes identifying, based on the one or more infrared images, one or more temperature profiles of the compaction roller, and analyzing identified temperature profiles, to determine one or more of, a layup quality of the composite layup, and a heat history of the composite layup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Tyler M. Holmes, Brice A. Johnson, Sayata Ghose
  • Patent number: 11685104
    Abstract: A dynamic correction system of a manufacturing process using wire is provided. The dynamic correction system includes a driving device, a path sensor, and a controller. The driving device is configured to: drive a carrier with a motion parameter and encapsulate the carrier with a wire. The path sensor is configured to obtain an actual path information of the wire encapsulating the carrier. The controller is configured to: obtain an actual path of the wire encapsulating the carrier according to the actual path information; obtain an actual path difference between a target path and the actual path; determine whether the actual path difference is greater than a predetermined error; and, when the actual path difference is greater than the predetermined error, control the driving device to change the motion parameter to cause the actual path of the wire encapsulating the carrier to approach the target path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shang-Kun Li, Chih-Hsuan Shih
  • Patent number: 11654643
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical article including the following steps: a. providing a first substrate with a main surface, b. depositing a second substrate on the main surface with an adhesive layer so that the space between the first substrate and second substrate is filled by the adhesive layer, c. curing the adhesive layer to induce a polymerization of the adhesive layer, wherein a tension step takes place after steps a. and b., and before step c., the tension step including applying symmetrically a tension, preferentially with a central symmetry, preferentially a radial isotropic tension or an ortho-distributed symmetrical tension, on the edges of the second substrate sensibly in a tension plan parallel to a plan representative of the main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Mathieu Meynen, Ludovic Jouard, Marc Reignault, Sira Uhalte Nogues
  • Patent number: 11644077
    Abstract: In a method for coating a brake lining carrier plate with an adhesive composition that is to be dried, the lining carrier plate is inductively heated to the desired drying temperature before the adhesive is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TMD Friction Services GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Maus, Frank Gümpel, Markus Steinhauer, Dieter Wappler, Michael Reese
  • Patent number: 11623394
    Abstract: A compactor is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may include a housing connectable to the additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may also include a compacting wheel, and at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel. The compactor may further include a piston moveable to adjust a distance between the housing and the compacting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Continuous Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor David Budge, Kenneth Lyle Tyler, Colin Hugh Hambling
  • Patent number: 11623393
    Abstract: A compactor is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may include a housing connectable to the additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may also include a compacting wheel, and at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel. The compactor may further include a piston moveable to adjust a distance between the housing and the compacting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Continuous Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor David Budge, Kenneth Lyle Tyler, Colin Hugh Hambling
  • Patent number: 11617686
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing elastic strand nonwoven panels including an unwind module, a lamination module and a folding module. Elastic strand material is fed from cores disposed on the unwind module through rollers towards the lamination module, where the elastic strand material is attached to a nonwoven web to form an elastic strand nonwoven web. At the folding module, the elastic strand nonwoven web is folded over itself by operation of plates underneath which the elastic strand nonwoven web is fed under tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: FIRST QUALITY BABY PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Pierluigi Cappellini
  • Patent number: 11577874
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for labeling an item in a conveyor line are disclosed. An example labeling station comprises a labeling member with a label holder configured to hold a label to be affixed to the item. The labeling member is configured to move at least the label holder at a matching speed of the conveyor in a matching direction and to affix the label to the item. An example labeling method includes obtaining a multi-dimensional representation of the item, determining a label target position in the representation, and controlling a labeling station to affix the label at the label target position on the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CALJAN A/S
    Inventors: Wieland Wegge, Thomas Fritz Heinz Heydolph
  • Patent number: 11535992
    Abstract: A method of producing a preformed pavement marking prior to application to paving on the ground comprises: providing a first sheet (10a) of thermoplastic pavement marking material; providing a second sheet (10b) of thermoplastic pavement marking material; positioning the first and second sheets (10a, 10b) next to each other; transferring energy to an energization zone (28) along an edge of at least one of said first and second sheets (10a; 10b), to locally liquefy a portion of the thermoplastic material of said at least one of the first and second thermoplastic pavement marking material sheets (10a, 10b) in the energization zone (28); and solidifying the liquefied thermoplastic of the energization zone (28) to form a bond between the first and second sheets (10a, 10b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: COLORPOINT OSBY KEMI AB
    Inventors: Peter Ennet, Jonas Axelsson
  • Patent number: 11524811
    Abstract: A system for printing and applying labels to a flow of objects, including a labelling unit, an object transporting device, an object detection sensor, and a control unit, wherein the labelling unit comprises a label printing unit for printing labels to be applied to the objects, wherein the object transporting device is transporting individual objects in a random flow to the labelling unit in an object transporting direction, wherein the object detection sensor is arranged upstream the labelling unit and is detecting a position of the objects when they are transported past the object detection sensor towards the labelling unit, wherein two directly after each other transported objects arranged on the object transporting device are separated by a separation distance, wherein the separation distance is calculated by the control unit based on position detection by the object detection sensor of reference points between a preceding object and a directly subsequent object being transported on the object transporti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Evolabel AB
    Inventors: Jonas Södergård, Gerard Dijkstra
  • Patent number: 11524810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a labelling machine for applying labels onto articles intended to contain a pourable product and comprising a conveyor and a transfer element. The labelling machine also comprises first detection means, arranged peripherally to the transfer element in a position downstream of an application station and upstream of a receiving station, relatively to an advancement direction. The first detection means is configured to detect the single labels still retained in use and to generate a presence signal correlated with the presence of the labels, by the lateral surface downstream of the application station. The labelling machine comprises second detection means arranged in a position downstream of the receiving station and upstream of the application station, relatively to the advancement direction, and configured to detect a positioning of each label onto the lateral surface and to generate a positioning signal correlated with the positioning of each label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventor: Mattia Giuliani
  • Patent number: 11518567
    Abstract: A robotic labeling system includes a package locating system for locating a package at a labeling station and a package identification system having a scanning device configured to scan an identification tag on the package to identify the package. The package identification system has a package measurement module configured to determine at least one dimension of the package and a package orientation module configured to determine an orientation of the package in the labeling station. The robotic labeling system includes a label application system including a label printer printing a label for the package based on an identity of the package determined by the scanning device and a label applicator operated to apply the label based on a measurement input from the package measurement module and based on an orientation input from the package orientation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Swapnilsinh Solanki, Du Wen, Hung Nguyen, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Tim Darr, Xinping Deng, Kevin Eshleman
  • Patent number: 11512417
    Abstract: An enzyme responsive shape memory polymer formed from a glassy, cross-linked shape memory polymer that incorporates ester bonds that are responsive to the present of an enzyme. PCL-based polyurethanes (featuring simple alternation of PCL diol and lysine-based diisocyanate) are degradable by Amano lipase PS. A non-degradable thermoplastic elastomer may be dual electrospun with a polycaprolactone based TPU with the fixing phase compressed so that the composite is ready for enzymatically triggered contraction. Alternatively, the elastomer may be a PCL copolymer-based polyurethane amorphous elastomer that is both degradable and elastomeric and put into compression so that upon enzymatic degradation of the elastomeric phase the scaffold expands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James Henderson, Patrick T. Mather, Shelby Buffington
  • Patent number: 11511526
    Abstract: A method for producing laminated glass or a precursor thereof using a first glass pane with a thickness of at least 1.4 mm and a second glass pane with a thickness of not more than 1.0 mm, the first and second glass panes differing in curvature and/or locally in shape, includes aligning an arrangement including the first and second glass panes and a laminating film by positioning a side edge of the arrangement against a stop element; pre-fixing the aligned arrangement at at least two locations on the positioned side edge of the arrangement by one or more fixing elements and heating, after which the fixing element or elements are removed again; and forming a fixed arrangement by passing the pre-fixed arrangement through a roller arrangement with the pre-fixed side edge of the arrangement ahead. The arrangement is heated in sections during passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Nikolai Borchmann, Stefan Lücke, Simon Breuer, Nino Tings
  • Patent number: 11499598
    Abstract: Method and plant for manufacturing braking elements such as vehicle brake pads. The plant can comprise a first station that applies an adhesive to a first face of a metallic element; a second station that applies to the first face of the metallic element a block of friction material; a checking station that verifies the presence of the adhesive by detecting the gray level of a plurality of points of at least one zone of the first face; and a processing unit that compares the gray level detected for each point with a first threshold value, counts the number of points that have a gray level that satisfies a relationship (which is a function of the threshold value,) and compares such a value with a second threshold value to discard those metallic elements for which the percentage calculated does not correspond to the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ITT Italia S.R.L.
    Inventors: Paolo Galimberti, Marco Belli, Sergio Ferrero
  • Patent number: 11491733
    Abstract: A method and a device for the ultrasonic welding of a first component to a second component of an electronic cigarette cartridge, wherein both components are made of a plastic material; the device includes an ultrasound generator, which delivers an electric pulse to a vibrating assembly, which, in turn, includes a converter designed to turn the electric pulse into a mechanical vibration movement and transfers it to a sonotrode, which directly transmits the energy in the form of vibrations to the two components to be welded; the sonotrode is designed so as to simultaneously weld a plurality of first components to the respective second components and cooperates with a plurality of striker elements, each associated to a respective first component and to a respective second component to be welded; and wherein each striker element is connected to a sensor, which is designed to detect a parameter of the welding process carried out to weld the first component to the second component and to control the welding proces
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11472350
    Abstract: A decorative arrangement for an interior lining of a motor vehicle has a carrier layer (20), a decorative layer (6) on the carrier layer (20), and a protective layer provided on the decorative layer (6). The decorative layer (6) is composed of a wood or wood veneer material. A metal structure (8) is provided on the decorative layer (6). The metal structure (8) is inlaid into the decorative layer (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HIB Trim Part Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schnabel, Volker Sieber
  • Patent number: 11433632
    Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The blade comprises first (12) and second (14) half shells bonded together and a shear web (16) bonded inside the shells. Prior to joining the shells together, the shear web is positioned in one of the shells. A plurality of bars (70) are attached to the shear web and engaged with a plurality of mounts (80) in order to support and stabilise the shear web relative to that shell. The shells are then arranged one above the other whilst the bars remain attached to the shear web. The bars continue to support the shear web whilst the shear web is aligned with the other shell. The bars are then detached from the shear web and the shells are brought together to bond the shells to each other and to bond the shear web between the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Peter Frans Thomsen
  • Patent number: 11437358
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device is provided. The OLED display device includes a display panel and a camera. A first alignment mark is formed on a low pixel density area of the display panel, a second alignment mark is formed in the camera, and arrangements of the first alignment mark and the second alignment mark are consistent. Therefore, an alignment accuracy between the camera and the display panel is improved, and a purpose of adopting a blind hole in the area where the camera is mounted on the display device and displaying normally is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Zhan
  • Patent number: 11427367
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for labeling a component for component serialization. The component labeling is initiated, and a label is printed for the component. A collaborative robot or “cobot” retrieves the printed label and moves the label in place for attachment. Iterative views are performed until a tolerance value of the views is reached and the label is attached to the component. Information on the label and other labels are scanned and entered into an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Marie O'Callaghan, John Caufield, Daniel Bradfield, Martin Buckley, Craig Conroy
  • Patent number: 11426992
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for leveling a bonding device and anvil in an assembly via a closed-loop control system is provided. The assembly includes an anvil, a bonding device positioned adjacent the anvil and configured to interact with the anvil to form the bonds on the web, and an actuator that enables adjustment of an orientation between the bonding device and the anvil. The assembly also includes a closed-loop control system configured to control operation of the actuator, with the closed-loop control system configured to monitor an operational parameter of the assembly indicative of interaction of the bonding device with the anvil, determine whether the bonding device is parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil based on the operational parameter, and when the bonding device is not parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil, cause the actuator to adjust the orientation between the bonding device and the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: CURT G. JOA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin M. Lafferty, David E. Schuette
  • Patent number: 11417543
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a first holder, a second holder, an imaging unit and a moving device. The first holder is configured to hold a first substrate. The second holder is disposed to face the first holder and configured to hold a second substrate to be bonded to the first substrate. The imaging unit includes a first imaging device configured to image a first alignment mark formed on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and a second imaging device configured to image a second alignment mark formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. The moving device is configured to move the imaging unit in a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction within a plan region between the first holder and the second holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Otsuka, Munehisa Kodama, Yutaka Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11390038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing a butt-welded joint between two pipe segments (38, 39) of a pipe (27, 28) made of a weldable plastic material, each pipe segment being held by a gripping means (14, 15), pipe end cross-sections of the pipe segments (38, 39) being machined with the aid of a tool means (11) for forming welding contact surfaces (40, 41), said tool means (11) being disposed in a stationary manner in a separating plane (37) for machining the welding contact surfaces (40, 41) and a separating cut for forming the pipe segments (38, 39) being realised by the gripping means (14, 15) moving the pipe (27, 28) relative to the tool means (11) in the separating plane (37), said separating cut simultaneously serving to form the welding contact surfaces (40, 41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Huerner Schweisstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Lenz, Florian Kraus, Richard Early
  • Patent number: 11376582
    Abstract: Fabricating a fluid testing device includes receiving a substrate, and applying a pattern of hydrophobic material to the substrate. The substrate is positioned between layers of a thermally reflective material. Heat and pressure is applied to the substrate and thermally reflective material to reflow the pattern of hydrophobic material. A protective coating is applied over a portion of the substrate to form the fluid testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jaione Tirapu Azpiroz, Matheus Esteves Ferreira, Ademir Ferreira da Silva, Ricardo Luis Ohta, Mathias Steiner
  • Patent number: 11370212
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical film laminating system for laminating an optical film on a panel in order to manufacture a display unit wherein a control unit which sets, in accordance with attachment conditions, an optical film laminating mode in respect to the panel to at least one of a first mode in which the panel and the optical film are inputted together between a first roller unit and a second roller unit so that the optical film is laminated on the panel, and a second mode in which the second panel conveying unit holds the panel by suction and conveys the panel and the optical film is inputted between the panel and an attachment roller unit, which is any one of the first roller unit and the second roller unit, so that the optical film is laminated on the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Beom Seok Lee, Yu Jin Lim, Chan Soo Kim, Eung Jin Jang
  • Patent number: 11370575
    Abstract: A robotic labeling system for packages includes a package database management system including a package database storing package data and a package labeling controller communicatively coupled to the package database management system. The robotic labeling system includes a package locating system receiving locating inputs from the package labeling controller for locating the packages at a labeling station and a package identification system having a scanning device scanning an identification tag on the package to determine the package identification and orientation. The robotic labeling system includes a label application system having a labeling device and label applicator that prepares and applies a shipping label and a customer specific label to the package based on the content data stored in the package database. The robotic labeling system may verify the applied labels based on the scanned data on the package and either discharging or rejecting the package based on the scanned data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Du Wen, Kevin Eshleman, Swapnilsinh Solanki, Jiankun Zhou, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu
  • Patent number: 11370574
    Abstract: An applicator apparatus including an applicator pad (10) and an actuator (180) for positioning the applicator pad (10) in a desired position, the applicator pad (10) being attached to the actuator (180) by an attachment member (40), wherein the attachment member (40) enables articulation between the applicator pad (10) and the actuator (180).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Dover Europe Sàrl
    Inventors: Jonas Eichenberger, Tobias Bleiker, Simon Weidmer
  • Patent number: 11364669
    Abstract: [Problem] To suppress changes in the recess depth and shape of a three-dimensional molded shape, and to form a uniform protective layer or ornamental layer along the surface of the molded shape. Also, to provide uniform application to the entire irregularly-formed surface and to suppress air pockets and partial defects of bonding. [Solution] In an adherend W having a three-dimensional molded portion in which a plurality of concavities and/or convexities are molded in a regular arrangement, a thermoplastic coating film larger than the area of an adhesion region is integrally adhered by a three dimensional decorative molding procedure in a predetermined adhesion region that includes the three-dimensional molded portion. The predetermined adhesion region includes all of the three-dimensional molded portion and covers more than half the perimeter of the adherend W in center cross-sectional view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: FU-SE VACUUM FORMING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Miura
  • Patent number: 11353314
    Abstract: A method for determining a distance between components has the steps of providing a first conductive section in or on the first component in a region directed toward the second component, providing a second conductive section in or on the second component in a region directed toward the first conductive section, feeding a first voltage pulse into a first connection of the first conductive section, capturing a reflection voltage pulse in response to the first voltage pulse at the first connection, determining an impedance profile along the first conductive section by evaluating the reflection voltage pulse, and determining a distance between the components along the first conductive section by calculating a corresponding local distance, associated with the determined impedance profile, between the first conductive section and the second conductive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Buchmann, Alois Friedberger, Thomas Kruse, Thomas Körwien
  • Patent number: 11348791
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond a first substrate and a second substrate includes a first holder configured to hold the first substrate; a second holder configured to hold the second substrate; a first imaging device provided at the first holder and configured to image the second substrate held by the second holder; a first light irradiating device provided at the first holder and configured to irradiate light to the second substrate when the second substrate is imaged; a second imaging device provided at the second holder and configured to image the first substrate held by the first holder; and a second light irradiating device provided at the second holder and configured to irradiate light to the first substrate when the first substrate is imaged. Each of the first light irradiating device and the second light irradiating device is connected to a first light source configured to irradiate white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Shinichi Shinozuka