Abstract: An automated door assembly is provided for sealing an opening in a barrier to a contaminant-free environment suitable for semiconductor wafer processing. The door assembly comprises a base pivotable toward and away from the opening along an arcuate path and a closure plate linearly movably coupled to the base and configured to a seal the opening in the barrier. The closure plate is movable in synchronization with the pivoting of the base to traverse a horizontal linear path into contact with the barrier to close the opening. A vacuum system is provided in conjunction with the door assembly to extract particles from the sealed environment. A sensor disposed on the closure plate is operable to sense the position of wafers or other objects disposed adjacent the opening, to detect misalignment or omission thereof.

Abstract: A motion controller and a method of controlling the motion of a plurality of axes which prevents a discontinuous position command being generated to a follower axis. A follower mode transfer function circuit or routine generates a position command in response to a master axis position. This function can be in the form of electronic gearing or camming. A bias latch is utilized to offset any change in position resulting from a change in mode, such as changing from electronic gearing to electronic camming, changing cam profiles or gearing ratios, or changing the master axis. The latch is summed with the transfer function position command and a standard move command profile generator position command to provide the follower axis position command. The latch is recalculated each time the follower mode is changed.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus is disclosed which includes a support assembly for defining at least one dispensing location. A storage container is secured to the support assembly for holding a plurality of stackable objects. These stackable objects may include shims, washers, gaskets and seals. An escapement is operably associated with the support assembly. The escapement is operable for moving between a first position and a second position for transporting at least one of the stackable objects from the storage container to an external access location. The escapement may also be designed to be easily operated by a robot or robot actuated apparatus.

Abstract: An electrical control module for use with a stored energy assembly having a motor for use with a circuit breaker assembly, the circuit breaker assembly providing an electrical signal through electrical contacts for actuating the circuit breaker assembly, the electrical control module comprising a rectifying circuit, which receives and rectifies the electrical signal so as to provide a rectified electrical signal; a motor switch circuit connected to the motor; and an electrical signal flow maintenance circuit, which is operatively connected to the rectifying circuit, the motor switch circuit and the motor, wherein the electrical signal flow circuit maintenance maintains at least a threshold rectified electrical when the electrical contacts are closed so that the motor switch circuit is on and the motor operates.

Abstract: The heat sink (10) of the present invention is used to absorb and dissipate heat from a solid-state device. The heat sink (10) comprises a generally U-shaped body (18) of a thermally conductive material. The U-shaped body (18) comprises two continuous legs (20, 22) having widths greater than the width of the solid-state device.

Abstract: A support fixture to support a PC card, having components on side 1. A backing plate supports a casting, the casting having a nest. The surface of the nest is characterized in that it is a slightly larger mirror image of the side 1 of the PC card. The backing plate has apertures and the casting is received in the apertures to lock the casting to the backing plate. Vacuum holes are formed in the backing plate, to draw a vacuum to hold the PC card in a planar position.

Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus for packing items in selectively variable numerical quantities includes a track assembly adapted to support a plurality of strip items in parallel array. In a first section of the track assembly, a lateral slot receives consecutive batches of strips in parallel array. A plurality of pusher elements extend through a track slot, pushing the strips to impinge on each other in edge-adjacent fashion, and to translate distally from the first stage. A second stage of the track assembly includes a sufficient length of the track to accumulate a large number of strips. At the distal end of the track, a strip collection cylinder receives the strips. One end of the cylinder is configured to receive the open end of a bottle package, and the other receives a plunger to push the accumulated strips from to the bottle.

Abstract: A uni-directional tilt mechanism for supporting a robotic arm mechanism or other structures includes a simplified system of two motors for tilting a support platform in one dimension. The uni-directional tilt platforms according to the invention may be stacked to provide a universally tiltable stacked platform system for supporting a robotic arm mechanism. The multi-directional tilt stacked platform system can be used to align a Z-axis of a transferred substrate with cassettes or workstations in which substrate is to be placed by the robot.

Abstract: A trip mechanism (140), including two trip actuators, namely a bi-metal trip actuator (144) and a magnetic trip actuator (142), that act on a plunger (160). A plunger guide (162) guides motion of the plunger along a straight line path of travel. Each trip actuator is capable of moving the plunger independently of the other trip actuator to cause the circuit breaker to trip in response to detection of either a thermal fault or a magnetic fault.

Abstract: Optics for a document scanner arc disclosed which permit information on a document to be optically reorganized so they may be input as a single image to the lens of a single charge coupled device camera without the need for moving optics or moving document arrangements to sequentially image portions of the document to the input lens of the camera. The optics are mirrors in a fixed, stationary arrangement with respect to each other, between the camera lens and a document to be read. All the information to be read on the document is reflected between the mirrors and is thereby transposed physically before being input to the lens of the camera as a single image. After the single image input to the camera is scanned and stored the image portions are re-transposed using a computer and software utilizing a transposition algorithm to re-create the information on the document in their proper order.

Abstract: A device for mechanically picking and palletizing rectangular objects of various sizes for attachment to a robotic arm. The device includes a pair of rails having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, elongated L-shaped grips extending there through. The distance between the respective rails can be adjusted to accommodate various width containers. The L-shaped grips are capable of pivotal rotation such that their grip ends rotate under the object for picking and palletizing. A pair of pallet hooks having suction cups attached thereto is also provided on the device.

Abstract: A planarity teaching station includes one or more proximity sensors arranged to reflect light off a surface to determine a plane in which a substrate is positioned by a robotic arm. The plane of the substrate is then automatically adjusted by changing a Z-axis of a universally tiltable robot base or in another manner, based on the data provided by the planarity teaching station. The adjustment of the substrate or end effector plane allows substrates to be removed from and delivered to various cassettes and workstations of a substrate processing system without damage to the substrate caused by end effector misalignment.

Abstract: A motion controller and a method of controlling the motion of a plurality of axes which prevents a discontinuous position command being generated to a follower axis. A follower mode transfer function circuit or routine generates a position command in response to a master axis position. This function can be in the form of electronic gearing or camming. A bias latch is utilized to offset any change in position resulting from a change in mode, such as changing from electronic gearing to electronic camming, changing cam profiles or gearing ratios, or changing the master axis. The latch is summed with the transfer function position command and a standard move command profile generator position command to provide the follower axis position command. The latch is recalculated each time the follower mode is changed.

Abstract: A dual plate gas assisted heater module having a vertically movable poppet movable between an upper and a lower subchamber has a passive heating feature which preheats a substrate prior to introducing it into a subchamber for active heating.

Abstract: An adapter plate assembly for mounting a stored energy assembly to a circuit breaker assembly, the adapter plate assembly comprising a mounting plate, the mounting plate comprising a circuit breaker toggle aperture that receives a circuit breaker toggle, at least one mounting aperture for mounting the adapter plate assembly to the circuit breaker assembly, wherein the mounting plate has at least one hinge connector that hingedly connects the stored energy assembly to the mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate further comprises a circuit breaker trip aperture; a trip arm mounting aperture; a trip arm comprising a trip flange at one end for being contacted by a tripping member of the stored energy assembly, a mounting member for rotateably mounting the trip arm to the mounting plate, and a trip extension member, located between the trip flange and the mounting member, that is used to actuate the tripping of the circuit breaker assembly.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for multiple, simultaneous synthesis of compounds. The apparatus includes a reaction block having a heating layer, a cooling layer, each of which may perform both functions, and a collection sump. A plurality of reaction tubes are supported in the reaction block in a matrix. Each reaction tube has a top outlet, a bottom outlet and a filter above the bottom outlet. Spool valves are located to control the bottom outlets of the reaction tubes. Obturators are provided to close the top outlets of the reaction tubes and to provide venting for the reaction tubes. The collection sump alternately may be equipped with individual collection tubes for each reaction tube. Each reaction tube is formed with a restrictive waist and protrusions arranged in a pattern between the waist and its bottom outlet to improve the mixing of the resinous solid supports by creating turbulence.

Abstract: A motor operated stored energy assembly for use with a circuit breaker assembly having a light pipe indicator assembly for indicating a status of the stored energy assembly, the motor operated stored energy assembly comprising a housing assembly; a movable element having at least two positions so that each of the positions corresponds to a state of the motor operated stored energy assembly, wherein each of the positions has a corresponding shading indicator; at least one light pipe mounted with respect to the housing assembly so that a first end of the light pipe faces the shading indicator and a second end opposite to the first end faces outwardly with respect to the housing assembly so that the light pipe indicates the shading indicator corresponding to a position of the movable element.

Abstract: Problems associated with delta motors being subjected to increased torques and overcurrent conditions resulting from inaccurate swapped wiring configurations in a delta motor system are eliminated in a motor controller that automatically inhibits operation of the delta motor when it detects that the fault contactor connections and the motor controller connections to a delta motor have been swapped or reversed.

Abstract: A pinion gear carrier assembly for use with an operator handle, operator handle shaft assembly and main operator gear that is used to drive a movement translation assembly so as to charge a stored energy assembly of a stored energy circuit breaker actuation apparatus, the pinion gear carrier assembly comprising a pinion gear carrier having an operator handle shaft aperture and an idler pinion gear mounting member, wherein the pinion gear carrier is mounted on the operator handle shaft using the operator handle shaft aperture; a driver pinion gear mounted on the operator handle shaft; an idler pinion gear mounted on the idler pinion gear mounting member; wherein the driver pinion gear and the idler pinion gear contact one another so that the idler pinion gear rotates when the driver pinion gear is rotated by the operator handle and operator handle shaft.