Magnetic Or Electrostatic Gripper Patents (Class 198/750.13)
  • Publication number: 20150041287
    Abstract: A magnetic conveyance system comprising a support structure having a ferromagnetic capacity and a trolley moveable upon the support structure in a plurality of directions. The trolley may include a trolley frame and at least one attractor cell disposed on the trolley frame. The at least one attractor cell may comprise a housing and at least one magnet, at least one friction reducing load spreading device, and a load transfer member disposed within the housing. The magnet may provide a magnetic attraction force between the trolley and the support structure. The friction reducing load spreading device may comprise a plurality of bearing balls circulating within a reservoir and a channel formed by the load transfer member disposed within the housing. The load transfer member may also include a bearing surface wherein a portion of the plurality of bearing balls is disposed between the bearing surface and the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Donald Burke
  • Patent number: 7597190
    Abstract: The invention is related to induction driven straight or curved conveyors. Belts of the current invention have a flexible strip of permanent rare earth magnetic composition embedded therein. In combination with the flexible strip, stators induce magnetic flux to advance the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Rick Lee
  • Patent number: 7591368
    Abstract: A glass substrate carrier has a base, a tray assembly, a transmission device and a non-contact brake assembly. The base is movable. The tray assembly has a tray slidably mounted on the base and holding a glass substrate. The transmission device is mounted between the base and the tray assembly and is capable of driving the tray to extend out or retract back to the base. The non-contact brake assembly has a first brake element mounted on the base and a second brake element mounted on the tray assembly and un-contacting the first brake element. The first and second brake elements attract each other with an attractive force to brake a movement of the tray of the tray assembly. The first and second brake elements do not rub against each other and no dust is generated to damage circuit on the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Prime View International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jui-Chung Cheng, Summit Lin
  • Patent number: 7189049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for rapid transfer of a work object in both the horizontal and vertical directions using a robot unit (10) having a gripping mechanism (12) preferably from one workstation (3) to another (4), the work piece (2) weighing between one kilo and forty kilos and the transfer in the horizontal direction being at least one meter but less than ten meters and at least partially being effected along an essentially horizontally extending beam unit (20), and the gripping mechanism (12) being arranged in such a way that, at least in one end situation (E1) along the beam (20), it can collect and/or deliver a work object (2) in a position (E2) situated beyond the end situation (E1) along the said horizontal beam (20), which robot unit is controlled by means of a control unit (50) and is driven by means of a belt member (24) and at least two motors (26, 27) comprising rotor units connected to drive wheels (26A, 27A) for the said belt member (24), the said motors (26, 27) being immovab
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Binar Aktiebolag (publ)
    Inventors: Stefan Blomgren, Ingemar Pettersson
  • Patent number: 6443291
    Abstract: The method and apparatus (10) for moving and positioning parts (150, 250, 350 or 450) on workpieces (160) is described. The apparatus includes a vibratory bowl (12), a conveyance and feed system and a positioning cylinder (82). The bowl aligns the parts and orients the parts using a gauge (16, 216, 316 or 416). The conveyance and feed system moves the parts through a conduit (34) using an escapement (44) to feed the parts one at a time to the positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder has a pneumatic piston (90) with a piston rod (100) having an extension (102) and tip (104). An electromagnet (112) is mounted at one end of the positioning cylinder. When activated, the positioning cylinder extends the piston rod such that the tip extends into an opening (150D, 250D, 350D or 450D) in the part. The electromagnet is activated simultaneously and sends a charge down the piston rod which charges the extension which is constructed of a magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Ernest M. Rivers, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020008004
    Abstract: The method and apparatus (10) for moving and positioning parts (150, 250, 350 or 450) on workpieces (160) is described. The apparatus includes a vibratory bowl (12), a conveyance and feed system and a positioning cylinder (82). The bowl aligns the parts and orients the parts using a gauge (16, 216, 316 or 416). The conveyance and feed system moves the parts through a conduit (34) using an escapement (44) to feed the parts one at a time to the positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder has a pneumatic piston (90) with a piston rod (100) having an extension (102) and tip (104). An electromagnet (112) is mounted at one end of the positioning cylinder. When activated, the positioning cylinder extends the piston rod such that the tip extends into an opening (150D, 250D, 350D or 450D) in the part. The electromagnet is activated simultaneously and sends a charge down the piston rod which charges the extension which is constructed of a magnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Ernest M. Rivers
  • Patent number: 6298977
    Abstract: The method and apparatus (10) for moving and positioning parts (150, 250, 350 or 450) on workpieces (160) is described. The apparatus includes a vibratory bowl (12), a conveyance and feed system and a positioning cylinder (82). The bowl aligns the parts and orients the parts using a gauge (16, 216, 316 or 416). The conveyance and feed system moves the parts through a conduit (34) using an escapement (44) to feed the parts one at a time to the positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder has a pneumatic piston (90) with a piston rod (100) having an extension (102) and tip (104). An electromagnet (112) is mounted at one end of the positioning cylinder. When activated, the positioning cylinder extends the piston rod such that the tip extends into an opening (150D, 250D, 350D or 450D) in the part. The electromagnet is activated simultaneously and sends a charge down the piston rod which charges the extension which is constructed of a magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Ernest M. Rivers, Jr.