Patents Assigned to Automation, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20030074802
    Abstract: A contact gauge for measuring a contoured surface on work piece is presented having a matching contoured profile and multiple sensors inserted in a gauge body. The gauge body uses bores filled with spherical balls. At least one ball from each bore contacts the contoured surface, which causes displacement of the ball. The displacement is transferred to and recorded by the sensor. The layout of the gauge permits multiple sensors to be mounted in a compact gauge housing and the gauge housing, in turn, may connected to a robotic arm for rapid and repeated use as an automated measurement apparatus for a component assembly line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: ABB Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Rucha, Daniel W. McGillis, Peter J. Deir
  • Patent number: 6550226
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Patent number: 6553338
    Abstract: A strategy for optimal buffering in the case of an infinitely long wire buffered with an arbitrary number of equally spaced single-size buffers is presented. A simple but efficient technique is proposed using this to choose a buffer size and determine a good inter-buffering distance up front, thus enabling fast, efficient buffer insertion. The analysis also allows representing delays of long wires as a simple function of the length and buffer and wire widths. Based on this, a novel constant wire delay approach is proposed where the proposed wire delay model is used for fairly accurate prediction of wire delays early in the design process and these predictions are later met via buffer insertion and wire sizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Magma Design Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Premal V. Buch, Hamid Savoj, Lukas P. P. P. Van Ginneken
  • Publication number: 20030071596
    Abstract: The direct torque control (DTC) principle is used to control the torque of a wound ring rotor slip induction machine, also known as a doubly fed or cascade machine, by utilizing a solid state inverter on the rotor side. In addition, the DTC principle is used to control the power factor at the stator terminals of the doubly fed machine to a desired level and also to perform the task of synchronization of stator voltage to the grid voltage. An integrated controller is used to implement these three functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: ABB Automation Inc./ ABB Industry Oy
    Inventors: Kalyan P. Gokhale, Douglas W. Karraker, Samuli J. Heikkila
  • Patent number: 6547510
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus having a drive section and a movable arm assembly connected to the drive section. The drive section has a coaxial drive shaft assembly with independently rotatable drive shafts. The movable arm assembly has two scara arms. Each scara arm has an inner arm connected to a separate respective one of the drive shafts. An outer arm of each scara arm is connected to a rotationally stationary pulley on the drive section by respective transmission belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Brooks Automation Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 6547057
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for receiving a multiplicity of like circular articles, such as discs, rings, and lids, for example, presented in a known or random horizontal orientation, and for collecting them for subsequent conventional processing into a horizontal counted stack in which each of the circular articles of the stack has the same on-edge or vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: CBW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Carson, Kevin J. Anzek, Thomas A. Sahrle, Dennis E. Schneider
  • Patent number: 6549438
    Abstract: An AC-to-DC converter furnishing a regulated DC-output voltage from an AC-input supply voltage which is converted with a rectifier that utilizes, in at least two of its legs, IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) devices, preferably of the kind that have no internal diodes. Also included in the converter of this convention is circuitry which tracks zero-crossing events relative to AC-input voltage for the purpose of establishing switching signals and times for such signals for operating the IGBT devices, and wherein thorough-safe operation is associated with malfunctioning of the zero-crossing tracking subcircuitry whereby a failure in that circuitry will result effectively in a shut down of the entire converter, and a bleed down to zero of DC-output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Precision Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Malone
  • Patent number: 6546361
    Abstract: A method for recording and removing the bipolar bias from a vibration input signal. The signal is a time varying signal where the bipolar bias has an amplitude which is many times greater than the amplitude of the time varying waveform of the signal that represents the vibration of the machine. In calculating the level of the bipolar bias the method approaches a predetermined dead band asymptotically and in stable manner. The determination of the bipolar bias level occurs when the next event has occurred and the time for that determination is much shorter than the time between occurrence of the events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Di Tommaso, Ren-Chao Ye
  • Patent number: 6545479
    Abstract: A portable circuit breaker tester (10) for testing a current transformer (30, 32, 34, 36) of a circuit breaker (18) having a first terminal (30e, 32e) on a first end of the transformer and a second terminal (138) on a second end of the transformer has a test port (14) configured to be coupled to the first (30e, 32e) and second terminals (138) and a test circuit (68, 74, 96, 104, 146) coupled to the test port (14). The test circuit (68, 74, 96, 104, 146) is configured to provide a test current through the test port (14) to the first terminal (30e, 32e), to monitor the second terminal (138) through the test port (14), and to provide an output signal to an indicia (38, 40) based on whether the test current is received at the second terminal (138). The test circuit (68, 74, 96, 104, 146) is configured to perform first and second testing operations on the circuit breaker (18) through the test port (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Randall Dollar, II, Mario Bilac, Jerry M. Green
  • Publication number: 20030061866
    Abstract: A mobile testing apparatus, method, and computer product that performs high speed testing of mobile pressure devices using high speed totalization, where testing of multiple devices may be done concurrently. Test results are communicated to a central console using a variety of communication methods, including wireless, and the testing apparatus and method is robust and reliable despite the occurrence of transient communication failures, because the test apparatus and method may operate independently of central control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Kuzala, Mark E. Werthman, Robert J. Bell, Paul G. Horvath
  • Publication number: 20030063422
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having a trip mechanism and an electronic module having an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a control circuit, a composite circuit which generates a composite signal voltage, a residual circuit, the circuit breaker comprising a first power supply to provide a first voltage signal and a second power supply to provide a second voltage signal. An analog override circuit in the circuit breaker is configured to receive the first voltage signal from the first power supply, the second voltage signal from the second power supply and the composite signal voltage from the composite circuit. The analog override circuit provides an override signal to the ASIC which is coupled to a logic gate configured to receive a first trip signal from the control circuit and a second trip signal from the ASIC and provides a third trip signal to the trip mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Mario Bilac
  • Patent number: 6540223
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6540803
    Abstract: A fluid meter particle isolating system having a tortuous path formed between a pair of walls with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is open to a contaminant-free (clean) zone while an outlet is open to a particle generating contaminated (dirty) zone. The walls include partitions that form a tortuous path separating it into a plurality of chambers. An impeller constructed of a plurality of open cells forms a piston-like structure is provided in the tortuous path and has an axis of motion parallel to the walls. Each vessel is offset axially and has four walls and a bottom surface contoured to provide a transition from one cell to the next through an exit port providing a continuous flow from the vessel in the first cell sequentially to adjacent cells to an exit port in the last vessel in the last cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Intrabay Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul S. Whalen
  • Patent number: 6536270
    Abstract: A scanner for moving sheet materials such as a paper making machine provides the gauging heads which measure parameters such as basis weight and moisture entirely inside an enclosed tubular beam. Each gauging head is driven in a cross direction perpendicular to the moving sheet direction and includes a seal belt for dust and dirt protection by covering a slot in the beam, except where the gauging is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Voith Paper Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee L. Henry, Steven Nelson
  • Publication number: 20030053902
    Abstract: An edge gripping device for a robot arm grips and ungrips substrates, such as semiconductor wafers. A base is fixed to an end of the robot arm. A blade, having a distal contact location thereon, and a pusher bar, having preferably two proximal contact locations thereon, are movably mounted to the base via a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes two four-bar linkages. The first four-bar linkage has a stationary link and three movable links connected in a parallelogram configuration. The pusher bar is fixed to one of the movable links of the first linkage for movement therewith. The second four-bar linkage has a stationary link and three movable links connected in a trapezoidal configuration. The blade is fixed to one of the movable links of the second linkage for movement therewith. The two linkages share a stationary pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: PRI Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuckson Yokota, Joseph Mann, Jean-Pascal Rouland, Malek Charif, Ted Hwang
  • Patent number: 6535124
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing and signal conditioning the pulsation signal derived from combustion of fuel in a turbine. There are one or more user defined frequency bands and the method and apparatus provides a digital signal for the true RMS value of each of the user defined bands. Turbine protection logic has as its input the digital true RMS values for each such band and inspects that value to determine if the frequencies in that band exceed a predetermined level for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. DiTommaso, Kevin Dowdell, Michael J. Kleya, William J. Kline
  • Patent number: 6533521
    Abstract: Access to the interior of a substrate storage pod in which substrates such as semiconductor wafers are stored is gained using an access device provided within a micro environment enclosure. The access device has a telescoping enclosure door which serves to control access to the interior of the storage pod from the interior of the enclosure. A pre-aligner is mounted to the enclosure door, and substrates are passed through the pre-aligner as they are retrieved from the storage pod. The pre-aligner detects and adjusts the orientation of the substrates as necessary for processing. The level of the pre-aligner is incrementally adjusted to match that of a current substrate by incrementally adjusting the level of the enclosure door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Genmark Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Todorov, Mila Genov
  • Patent number: 6530732
    Abstract: A load lock and related method of handling a substrate involves placing a substrate onto a vertically movable poppet and moving the poppet between two vertically opposed subchambers such that in moving the poppet toward one of the subchambers, that subchamber is sealed to atmosphere. The two subchamber system allows one substrate to be placed into a buffer and another substrate to be cooled at the same time. Also, the system allows for a slow vacuum to be made on the substrate in a subchamber to avoid undesirably loading the substrate by the otherwise immediate drop in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor J. Theriault, Mark Ives
  • Patent number: 6529112
    Abstract: A ring tongue lug retainer in a circuit breaker with the circuit breaker having a line bus conductor and a load bus conductor, wherein electrical conductors are connected to the line and load bus conductors. The ring tongue lug retainer comprises a lug body having a throughbore defining at least two interior walls and a threaded screw hole aligned perpendicular to and in communication with the throughbore. A thread portion may be provided in each interior wall of the lug body engages the binding screw configured to threadingly engage the screw hole and the lug body. The binding screw has a ring tongue protrusion configured to engage a ring tongue terminal of the electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Leone
  • Patent number: D471402
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis P. Krizan, Stephen J. Gosk