Patents Assigned to Automation, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5196715
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting streaks in a moving sheet of material utilizes the signal generating and processing means of an existing spot/hole detection system which provides a series of spot measurement signals generated sequentially as a machine direction series of cross-machine sets and assigns a cross-direction location to each signal. Means are provided for calculating an exponential average of the signals for each of the cross-machine locations. This average is compared with a predetermined standard and an output signal, including a cross-machine location, is generated when the average exceeds the standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: ABB Process Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Gary N. Burk, Mark A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5195009
    Abstract: An arrangement for producing a signal representative of the vectorial sum of the currents in a plurality of electric conductors in an electrical system. The arrangement includes a current transformer associated with each of the electrical conductors, and a differential current transformer for summing the current produced by each of the current transformers in response to currents in the electrical conductors. The differential current transformer is coupled to a rectifier and resistor arrangement which allows a voltage signal to be produced which is representative of the sum of the currents in the current transformers. The voltage signal is also representative of the sum of currents in the phase conductors of the electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. May
  • Patent number: 5193662
    Abstract: An improvement in lift and carry conveyor systems includes the use of fixed guide rails which guide lower portions of a part as the part moves between sequential conveyor sections. The guide rails ensure that the part continues to be properly guided as it moves between the sequential stations, or between a workstation and a conveyor section. Further, the lift members are formed of aluminum extrusions and have plastic inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Durr Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. McCulloch, Michael J. Peabody
  • Patent number: 5186797
    Abstract: Disclosed is an in-line electrolytic deflash system and method for removing resin bleed and other materials from the leads of an encapsulated electronic component. An encapsulated electronic component is carried on a continuous belt through the system. The component first passes through an electrolytic deflash station which includes tanks filled with a deflash solution for loosening the resin bleed. The component is then rinsed in a low pressure rinse station, and then carried through a high pressure rinse station where the loosened resin bleed is removed from the component. The component is then further rinsed with both tap water and a deionized water. Once the component has been sufficiently rinsed any remaining moisture is blown off the part in an air knife station and the component is then passed through a dryer which completely removes any moisture remaining on the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Future Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Heinz W. Schlenker, Louis J. Hirbour, Daniel J. Gramarossa
  • Patent number: 5184811
    Abstract: Paperboard sheets are fed by a feeder including driven wheels which engage the lowermost sheet of a stack and drive it through the nip rolls of a box-finishing machine is synchronism with the latter. Supporting the sheets is a grate movable between a raised position wherein the wheels are spaced from the sheet and a lowered position wherein the lowermost sheet engages the wheels and is fed thereby to the nip rolls. Below the grate is a vacuum box for holding the sheet on the wheels. Raising and lowering of the grate is effected by a cam which may be adjusted to vary the feed stroke in accordance with the length of the sheets. For driving the wheels there is provided a dual input drive mechanism including a constant velocity input drive and a variable input drive which are resolved at a single output drive to the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Sun Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis M. Sardella, John B. West
  • Patent number: 5184099
    Abstract: A pivoting lower contact arm arrangement and a circuit breaker including the arrangement. The pivoting lower contact arm arrangement includes a pivoting lower contact arm and a biasing arrangement. The biasing arrangement maintains the contact arm in an operating position with a first force and biases the arm from a blown-open position toward the operating position with a second force. The first force is greater than the second force to provide increased separating speed when the pivoting lower contact arm blows apart from a pivoting upper contact arm of the circuit breaker and moves from its operating position. The biasing arrangement also variously provides magnetic shielding and coupling between the pivoting lower contact arm and other current carrying components of the circuit breaker. The magnetic shielding enhances the blow-apart forces between the pivoting upper contact arm and the pivoting lower contact arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard DiMarco, Robert E. Black, Stephen D. Cella
  • Patent number: 5183975
    Abstract: A muffler for an air-cooling system used for channeling air for cooling an electric motor comprises a housing mounted on the electric motor and formed with an air inlet; and an air outlet and an air passage extending between and connecting the inlet and the outlet. Air from outside the housing employed to cool the motor enters through the inlet, flows through the passage and exits through the outlet. Noise having a spectrum of frequencies including a relatively low main discrete frequency, which corresponds to a relatively long wave-length, and a plurality of higher frequencies is generated in the cooling air during operation of the motor and its cooling system. A baffle is positioned within the housing adjacent to the outlet to interrupt lines of sight from the air passage to the outside of the housing. The housing and the baffle are made of a metal or plastic and have sufficient mass to attenuate the higher frequencies of the noise spectrum to a substantial degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack L. Craggs, Robert R. Burke
  • Patent number: 5182482
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamoelectric machine having an improved ventilation system including a housing using accurately sized openings which permit efficient intake and exhaust of coolant, while restricting inadvertent access to the interior of the housing without external attachments. The openings are integrally cast in the yoke and extend upwardly to prevent entry of precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Burke
  • Patent number: 5180276
    Abstract: An articulated arm transfer device employs a rhomboidal link structure defined by two separated pairs of forearms pivotally joined at the elbows and at the wrists. Each wrist supports a holding structure and the elbows are driven in mirror-image semicircular paths by a pair of upper arms which are superimmposed alternately under each pair of forearms as the upper arms are rotated about mutually adjacent shoulder joints. The motion is such that at any time one holding structure is moving rapidly between an extended position and a park position while the other holidng structure is slowly traveling a negligible distance between a park position and a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Ruth A. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 5174508
    Abstract: A tablet extractor includes a housing which defines a cylindrical chamber having a bottom wall and a side wall. A relief is formed in a sector of the chamber side wall which creates a relatively sharp knife edge. An impeller rotatably mounted in the housing includes a rigid finger which extends along the chamber, that finger having a leading face which extends generally radially and a radially outer surface which follows closely the unrelieved portions of the chamber side wall. There is an opening in the bottom wall of the chamber and a second opening in the chamber side wall. When the impeller is rotated so that the finger rotates toward the knife edge, the extractor can recirculate liquid and a tablet and parts thereof entrained in the liquid through the chamber for mixing and can position the tablet while in the chamber for impaction against the knife edge to pulverize the tablet. A complete automated extraction and analysis workstation incorporating the tablet extractor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Source For Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Martin
  • Patent number: 5172600
    Abstract: A linear weight actuator includes a clamp assembly adjustably connecting the power screw to the output spindle. The assembly includes an integrally formed key, riding in a slot formed in the actuator housing, which obviates the need for a separate key element. A mounting plate is adjustably clamped to the actuator housing, by a threaded mounting nut, such that the plate may be conveniently rotated relative to the housing. A linear bearing disposed in the mounting nut provides lateral support for the output spindle at a point spaced from the clamp assembly. A clamping ring encircles a thinned segment of the power nut and urges it against the power screw to prevent backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: ABB Process Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cissell, David C. Doerschuk, Karsten G. Koester, Gordon K. Reed
  • Patent number: 5163854
    Abstract: A high power density field wireable connector wherein both the wire insertion and the screw tightening mechanism for retaining an inserted wire in the connector are front accessible and negate the requirement to remove the module as in the prior art. The wiring is located toward the interior of the connector rather than the exterior so that the screws are more accessible. The connector housing includes a mechanism for captivating the mounting screws and a two position locator so that various modules already located in the field can use the same connector. Fingers on the circuit board make contact with contact fingers within the connector. Both the fingers on the circuit board and the contact fingers within the connector are preferably plated with gold. A normal spring force on the fingers within the connector is provided by the cantilever action of interior walls of the connector housing with the contact fingers disposed within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Industrial Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. Licht, Gordon R. Potts
  • Patent number: 5164883
    Abstract: A contactor interlock assembly operable with a racking arrangement for engaging and disengaging a contactor unit with a bus bar arrangement disposed relative to a contactor unit support structure. The contactor interlock assembly includes an arrangement for disabling the racking arrangement when the contactor unit is "ON." A cable connects the racking arrangement to a lever bracket supported by the support structure which is operated by a lever on the contractor unit. The lever operates the lever bracket which causes the cable to disable the racking arrangement. The interlock assembly may also include a second lever bracket associated with a second contactor unit. The second lever bracket is coupled to the first lever bracket by a cable such that the contactor units are also interlocked, such that the operation of one contactor unit is made dependent upon the operation of the other contactor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Little, Roger D. Kroes
  • Patent number: 5159538
    Abstract: The invention provides a fuse clip guard and load shield for an electrical switch assembly of the type having a generally planar base and a pair of longitudinally extending substantially parallel insulating walls defining a longitudinally extending space for containing an electrical load terminal and a fuse clip. The fuse clip guard and load shield each have a lid portion pivotally mounted between the pair of walls and a gripping portion which may include a tab restricting movement of a fuse ejector handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Wells, Bruce D. Guiney, James Sepelak
  • Patent number: 5156813
    Abstract: A fluid cup is provided for use with a cup support having a cup-receiving receptacle and a drain. The cup is adapted for use with a pipette probe which may introduce contaminants into the fluid, for example a dilutant fluid, in the cup. The cup has a lower cup portion and a cap, with a notch or other overflow element being provided near the top of the lower cup portion. Diluent fluid is introduced near the bottom of the lower cup portion after each probe entry, creating a fluid flow pattern which flushes any contaminant from the cup through the notch without requiring the use of a large fluid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Medical Laboratory Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Calhoun
  • Patent number: 5153924
    Abstract: An improved Optical Character Recognition System (OCRS) is taught using programmable logic devices to implement the mathematical algorithms that are used to make the black/white and related decisions. The programmable logic devices include, but are not limited to, Programmable Read Only Memories (PROMs), Erasable Read Only Memories (EPROMs), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories (EEPROMs), and Field Programmable Logic Arrays (FPLAs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: ElectroCom Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Van Tyne, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5151043
    Abstract: A busway of the type having a plurality of power bus elements inside a grounded housing and a ground conductor conductively fixed to the housing is provided with a ground bus element which is insulated from the housing for connection as an isolated ground for equipment which is to be protected from spurious power surges in the ground conductor of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Morgan
  • Patent number: D331400
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: ElectroCom Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Kelly, Clarence Zierhut, Joseph P. Howard
  • Patent number: D332776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: ElectroCom Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Kelly, Clarence Zierhut, Joseph P. Howard
  • Patent number: D332777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: ElectroCom Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Kelly, Clarence Zierhut, Joseph P. Howard