Patents Assigned to Automation, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20090133242
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for mounting a rotor to a motor shaft having a rotor with a centrally positioned central bore, the diameter of which is slightly larger than a diameter of the motor shaft, a first stepped bore intersecting the central bore and being aligned along a first axis of the rotor, and a second stepped bore also intersecting the central bore and being aligned along a second axis of the rotor. A first cam fastener is disposed within the first stepped bore, and a second cam fastener is disposed within the second stepped bore. Upon rotating the first and second cam fasteners, they engage the motor shaft thereby securely clamping the rotor to the motor shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: AVTRON INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Kramer
  • Patent number: 7538992
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for protecting an induction motor are disclosed. The exemplary system may have a module for determining the current drawn by the motor and a module for determining the state of the motor. The system may calculate a used thermal capacity based on a first formula when the motor is in an active state. The system also calculates the used thermal capacity based on a second formula when the motor is in an inactive state. When the used thermal capacity attains a threshold, the relay is tripped thus removing current to the motor and preventing motor from overheating. A method to derive thermal time constants from desired trip time limits (such as those defined by IEC standards or the thermal limit curves provided by motor manufacturers) is also presented. For example, the thermal time constants can then be used in tacking motor used thermal capacity throughout various motor states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Bilac, Chun Fan, Mikhail Golod
  • Publication number: 20090129897
    Abstract: A substrate processing system including a processing section arranged to hold a processing atmosphere therein, a carrier having a shell forming an internal volume for holding at least one substrate for transport to the processing section, the shell being configured to allow the internal volume to be pumped down to a predetermined vacuum pressure that is different than an exterior atmosphere outside the substrate processing system, and a load port communicably connected to the processing section to isolate the processing atmosphere from the exterior atmosphere, the load port being configured to couple with the carrier to pump down the internal volume of the carrier and to communicably connect the carrier to the processing section, for loading the substrate into the processing section through the load port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Babbs, William Fosnight, Robert C. May, William Weaver
  • Patent number: 7535605
    Abstract: A targeting device suitable for mounting an optical scanner includes a frame, a linkage slidably mounted on the frame, an actuator arm secured to the linkage, which actuator arm has an outer surface configured to slidingly engage the surface of the object to be scanned and a holder mounted on such that the actuator arm moves in tandem with the linkage along the frame when the object to be scanned is inserted between the actuator arm and a support surface below the actuator arm so that an optical scanner in the holder is held at a predetermined scanning distance from the object to be scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cykana, Ann M. Maslyk, Eric C. Rathbun
  • Publication number: 20090114575
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for enabling manual sorting items to one of several designated areas associated with delivery destinations. The system includes a conveyor for transporting a stream of items. A video camera is positioned to capture an image of an observation zone to read destination data on the item as it is transported on the conveyor and the location of the item as it continues on the conveyor. A control computer is used in which destination data is stored associating the destination data for an item with a location of the item on the conveyor, and operable to track the location of the item by video tracking with the same camera as the item moves out of an observation zone into an unloading zone. A video projector projects an image onto the item on the conveyor in the unloading zone that includes human-readable instructions for disposition of the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS ENERGY & AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Carpenter, Dale E. Redford
  • Publication number: 20090113409
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically updating reference values includes a processing device configured to execute a software application. The software application employs one or more dynamic data items which change as a function of time. A memory device is configured to store at least one table including the one or more dynamic data items which change as a function of time. An update mechanism is configured to check one or more external information sources for current values of the one or more dynamic data items and update the one or more dynamic data items in the at least one table such that upon execution of the software application a most recently updated value is employed for the one or more dynamic data items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20090105871
    Abstract: Systems, including method and apparatus, for processing workpieces driven automatically along a linear path to a plurality of positions disposed substantially along the linear path. In some embodiments, a workpiece may be processed at one or more of the positions using two or more processing stations, such as a first processing station that cuts the workpiece into segments and a second processing station that performs another processing operation on the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Precision Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer B. Dick, Stuart Aldrich, David A. Morgan, David Lee
  • Publication number: 20090106338
    Abstract: A system and method of for obtaining a pseudorandom number generator are disclosed. A set of state modules, each with a limit value, may be provided. In an embodiment, each of the limit values may be relatively prime to the other limit values. In response to one or more events, the values of the state modules are incremented. At some frequency that may be statistically independent from the occurrence of the one or more events, the values of the state modules are obtained and combined to form a random number. The values may be combined as desired and, if desired, may be combined modulo 2w, where 2w represents the number of possible random values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Dunbar
  • Publication number: 20090105872
    Abstract: Systems, including method and apparatus, for processing workpieces driven automatically along a linear path to a plurality of positions disposed substantially along the linear path. In some embodiments, a workpiece may be processed at one or more of the positions using two or more processing stations, such as a first processing station that cuts the workpiece into segments and a second processing station that performs another processing operation on the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Precision Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer B. Dick, Stuart Aldrich, David A. Morgan, David Lee
  • Publication number: 20090105870
    Abstract: Systems, including method and apparatus, for processing workpieces driven automatically along a linear path to a plurality of positions disposed substantially along the linear path. In some embodiments, a workpiece may be processed at one or more of the positions using two or more processing stations, such as a first processing station that cuts the workpiece into segments and a second processing station that performs another processing operation on the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Precision Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer B. Dick, Stuart Aldrich, David A. Morgan, David Lee
  • Publication number: 20090103977
    Abstract: Systems, including method and apparatus, for processing workpieces driven automatically along a linear path to a plurality of positions disposed substantially along the linear path. In some embodiments, a workpiece may be processed at one or more of the positions using two or more processing stations, such as a first processing station that cuts the workpiece into segments and a second processing station that performs another processing operation on the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Precision Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer B. Dick, Stuart Aldrich, David A. Morgan, David Lee
  • Patent number: 7522267
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided with a substrate transport apparatus. The transport apparatus is used for automating alignment of the processing apparatus. In one aspect, a through-beam sensor on the transport apparatus is used to level parts of the processing apparatus. In another aspect, a through-beam sensor on the transport apparatus is used to determine the locations and angular orientations of substrate stations within a plane. In another aspect, the transport apparatus teaches itself the accurate location of a substrate aligner by repeatedly placing the substrate on the aligner, recording positional data, constructing a cost function, and determining the location of the aligner by minimizing the cost function using a numerical technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hofmeister, Martin Hosek, Stuart Beale
  • Patent number: 7516535
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for mounting a rotor to a motor shaft having a rotor with a main aperture defined by a first half and a second half. A C-shaped collar is disposed into the second half of the main aperture with the motor shaft passing through the first half of the main aperture and the interior curve of the collar. The collar is secured to the rotor by a plurality of fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Avtron Industrial Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Emery
  • Patent number: 7519737
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an active standby control system includes the steps of providing a first and second programmable logic controller (PLC), each controller having an operating state. Each controller includes a network module board operably connected to a network; a control unit, a remote I/O head; and, a hot standby module, each hot standby module is operably connected together. PLC. This method and apparatus can be used within a control system for monitoring input devices and for controlling output devices which reside on the standard communications network such as an Ethernet network, and the standard communications protocol used therein can be TCP using Modbus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Naismith, Allan Tanzman, Dean Papadopoulos, Andy Swales, Orlando P. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 7516265
    Abstract: A system for providing an application with a plurality of methods for accessing memory of a programmable logic controller includes an application, an interface for establishing communication between the application and a programmable logic controller, and a shared memory area initiated by the application or the programmable logic controller. The shared memory area includes an input memory and an output memory. The application is enabled by the interface to write to the input memory and to read from the output memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: David Martin, C. Eric Gibson
  • Publication number: 20090084716
    Abstract: A method and system is described for determining the physical weights of flat articles being sorted without actually weighing the articles. Such a method includes the steps of; receiving volume information for individual flat articles from sensors, comparing that resultant data to classifiers stored in computer memory, and assigning a weight value associated to the physical flat article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Carpenter, Michael O. Norris
  • Publication number: 20090087288
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a frame, a drive section connected to the frame and including at least one independently controllable motor, at least two substrate transport arms connected to the frame and comprising arm links arranged for supporting and transporting substrates, and a mechanical motion switch coupled to the at least one independently controllable motor and the at least two substrate transport arms for effecting the extension and retraction of one of the at least two substrate transport arms while the other one of the at least two substrate transport arms remains in a substantially retracted configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Brooks Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hofmeister, Alexander G. Krupyshev, Krysztof A. Majczak, Martin Hosek, Jay Krishnasamy
  • Patent number: 7512593
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: recognizing, by a PLC, that a memory device has been connected to the PLC; and configuring the PLC via a PLC executable software program resident on the memory device. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a node of a network. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and searching the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to one or more search parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Karklins, James C. Rittenhouse, James W. Cornett
  • Patent number: 7511975
    Abstract: A system for limiting AC inrush current to a power supply. The system comprises first, second, and third windings magnetically coupled to a core of a transformer of the power supply. The system also comprises a first low-voltage contactor and a second low-voltage contactor. The system further comprises a first low-voltage impedance element connected between the first low-voltage contactor and the first winding, a second low-voltage impedance element connected between the second low-voltage contactor and the first winding, a third low-voltage impedance element connected between the first low-voltage contactor and the second winding, and a fourth low-voltage impedance element connected between the second low-voltage contactor and the second winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Willard Hammond
  • Patent number: D590402
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Lindner, Charles I. Yalowitz, Ned Cox, Gunter Ott, Jan Andersson