Patents Assigned to Automation, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6179763
    Abstract: An existing box-making machine is retrofitted by first removing the pull rolls and impression cylinder and other associated parts and cross-ties. However, the heavy duty side frames and drums, including the print cylinder are left intact in the box-making machine. A vacuum transfer machine is then inserted in the box-making machine and mounted to the existing frame to replace the pull rolls that were removed. The vacuum transfer machine includes a hood enclosure having an impression cylinder for printing, and transport rolls on opposite sides of the impression cylinder for conveying the corrugated boards through the impression and print cylinders and to the die cutter. The boards are held against the transport rolls and the impression cylinder by vacuum generated in a vacuum chamber in the hood which also contains the transport rolls and the impression cylinder. The vacuum chamber contains a plurality of vacuum dampers for controlling the vacuum area in accordance with the size of the boards being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Automation Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Cunnington Phillips, III
  • Patent number: 6180899
    Abstract: A double break switch construction for use in an electrical apparatus and suitable for both high power and low voltage-low current applications includes a base (10), first and second electrical contacts (36,38), mounted on the base (10) in spaced relation to one another, and an elongated, resilient, electrically conductive bar (48,100) having opposed ends (50,52). Two pairs of spaced electrical contacts (80,82); (90,92) are located on one side of the bar (48,100) with one pair of each of the ends (50,52) thereof. The bar (48,100) is aligned with the contacts (36,38) to bridge the same and the mounting post (54,60) engages the bar (48,100) generally centrally thereof and is movably mounted on the base (10) for moving the bar (48,100) toward and away from the contacts (36,38). A slot (94) is located in the bar (48,100) and extends in the direction of elongation thereof and between the contacts (90,92). The contact bar (48,100) is imperforate (84) between the contacts (80,82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian H. Passow
  • Patent number: 6175479
    Abstract: The present invention involves a power circuit breaker that conditionally and temporarily enables instantaneous trip protection. A position sensor senses whether the breaker contacts are open or closed. When the breaker contacts are open, the circuit breaker enables the instantaneous trip protection. After the circuit breaker contacts are closed, the circuit breaker continues to enable the instantaneous trip protector for a predetermined period of time. After this time delay, the circuit breaker disables the instantaneous trip protection and the circuit breaker reverts to providing its ordinary protection, such as long-time or short-time protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Boyd, David Michael Cooper
  • Patent number: 6172586
    Abstract: A circuit breaker (10) including a terminal barrier system (140). The terminal barrier system (140) includes a terminal barrier (142) attached to a circuit breaker base (12) at the terminals (16, 18), line and load, of the breaker (10) and a terminal connector (144) mounted in the terminal barrier (142) to align with a terminal (16, 18) of the breaker (10). Several embodiments of the terminal barrier (142) and terminal connector (144) are provided which allow flexibility in combining the various terminal barriers and terminal connectors for a given current rating of the breaker (10). The terminal barrier system (140) protects the terminals (16, 18) of the circuit breaker during short circuit condition operations, prevents pole to pole electrification and prevents accidental contact with live electrical wires in the contacts (42, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ferree, W. Dale Robbins, Michael W. Souza, Stacey L. Duvall, James H. Blessitt, Peter P. Clickner
  • Patent number: 6170760
    Abstract: A compact spray valve that provides an extended atomizing air cap for reaching between tightly spaced electronic components. The compact spray valve of the present invention includes an air body, a fluid control body and an extended atomizing air cap. The atomizing air cap along with a seat extension provides a plurality of laminar air flow conduits causing atomization of a fluid into a spray. The resulting spray pattern can be controlled to provide a narrow line spray pattern with clearly defined edges. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a flat spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Precision Valve & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard John Bievenue, Jonathan N. Urquhart
  • Patent number: 6170980
    Abstract: An automated tablet dissolution apparatus adapted for use with tablet sinkers. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a dissolution vessel and an automated mechanism for agitating the contents of the dissolution vessel. The apparatus also includes an automated mechanism for measuring a desired volume of media, heating and degassing the volume and then dispensing the volume into the vessel, an automated mechanism for sampling the contents of the dissolution vessel, an automated mechanism for dispensing a tablet (and sinker, if desired) into the dissolution vessel, an automated mechanism for heating the dissolution vessel, and an automated mechanism for imaging the contents of the dissolution vessel. In addition, the apparatus includes an automated mechanism for emptying the contents of the dissolution vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Source for Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Martin
  • Patent number: 6169383
    Abstract: Problems associated with maintaining a large inventory of multiple types of motor controllers designed to accommodate a single motor type are eliminated in a motor controller that automatically senses if it connected to a delta motor or a wye motor and configures itself for operation in a compatible mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Lynn Stewart Johnson
  • Patent number: 6166343
    Abstract: A unidirectional clutch assembly for use with an operator handle, pinion shaft assembly, a worm gear assembly and a pinion gear assembly of a stored energy assembly for use with a circuit breaker assembly, the operator handle and pinion shaft assembly including an operator handle having an outer handle hub having a first recess for receiving a first end of the pinion shaft assembly, the worm gear assembly fitting over the pinion shaft assembly and the pinion shaft assembly having a second end for receiving a pinion gear assembly, the unidirectional clutch assembly comprising a first unidirectional clutch structure, wherein the first unidirectional clutch structure fits over the first end of the pinion shaft and the unidirectional clutch structure is fitted into the first recess of the outer handle hub; and a second unidirectional clutch structure, wherein the second unidirectional clutch structure fits within the worm gear assembly and over the pinion shaft assembly between the first and second ends of the pi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Blessitt, Parker A. Bollinger, Jr., Paul D. Reagan
  • Patent number: 6164584
    Abstract: An apparatus for winding a wire about a component having a plurality of slots. The apparatus includes a rotatable gripper mechanism for gripping the component and rotating the component about a transverse axis of the component, the gripper mechanism being shaped to guide the wire into a slot of the component. The apparatus also includes a wire guide for guiding the wire into the slot of the component as the component is rotated about the transverse axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Odawara Automation Inc.
    Inventors: David Grigsby, Eric Kirker
  • Patent number: 6165268
    Abstract: A wafer carrier adapter for use with a 200 millimeter wafer carrier and a pod door opener to a front end of a semiconductor processing environment. The 200 millimeter wafer carrier has a bottom surface and is provided with a plurality of recesses extending through the bottom surface in a predetermined configuration and a front opening for accessing silicon wafers in the wafer carrier. The pod door opener has a platform with a kinematic coupling which includes a plurality of pins extending upwardly in a predetermined pattern from the platform for aligning and supporting 300 millimeter wafer carriers relative to a port in the pod door opener. The wafer carrier adapter comprises a support structure having top and bottom surfaces. The support structure is provided with a plurality of recesses extending through the bottom surface adapted to receive the plurality of pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: PRI Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney C. Ow, Karl Mathia
  • Patent number: 6163243
    Abstract: A current transformer assembly comprises a toroidal core and a conductor having a body portion and a mounting portion. The conductor's body portion extends through the aperture of the toroidal core. The mounting portion is positioned for a mechanical and electrical connection between an external conductor and the current transformer. A connection is made between the body portion and the mounting portion wherein mechanical engagement is sufficient to prevent unintended separation of the body portion from the mounting portion and electrical coupling is sufficient to permit the flow of current between the body portion and the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Solomon R. Titus
  • Patent number: 6158941
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus having a supply of substrates, a substrate transport module, and a substrate processing module. The transport module has a movable arm assembly and two substrate holders mounted to the movable arm assembly. The substrate holders each have two separate holding areas for simultaneously holding two substrates. The movable arm assembly has two pairs of driven arms. Each pair of driven arms is connected to a separate one of the holders for extending and retracting the holders along a radial path relative to a center of the movable arm assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Muka, James C. Davis, Jr., Christopher A. Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 6154680
    Abstract: Computer-based industrial control systems and methods employing object oriented hardware elements. An object oriented hardware element may comprise a processor core coupled one side to a universal real-world interface circuit, and on the other side to an open bus interface. In a preferred embodiment, the open bus interface provides downloading software programming objects to the microprocessor core. A computer-based control system in accordance with the present invention may comprise a personal computer or central processing unit coupled to a communications network, at least one zone interface module coupled to the communications network and to an open bus, at least one zone device module coupled to the open bus and, if required, one or more zone processor modules coupled to the open bus. Software object may be downloaded from the personal computer or central processing unit to the various modules to achieve modular, exception-based, distributively intelligent (MEDI) I/O control within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Zone Automation Inc.
    Inventors: H. Philip White, Thomas P. Quinn, James B. Quinn, John F. Stine
  • Patent number: 6154182
    Abstract: An extensible top-loaded biconical antenna is modified to improve low frequency performance while retaining standard performance specifications when needed. The biconical antenna includes a balun and a pair of conical outrigger assemblies coupled to said balun. A conducting tophat plate is removably attached to the ends of each outrigger assembly. The tophats increase the capacitance of the antenna, thereby improving its low frequency gain by 10 dB or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: EMC Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: James Stuart McLean
  • Patent number: 6152789
    Abstract: A battery terminal contactor for attachment to a battery housing is disclosed. The battery terminal contactor comprises a contactor portion and a base portion flexibly secured to the contactor portion. The base portion includes a fixed portion and a latch portion. The latch portion is resiliently connected to the fixed portion. The latch portion has a beveled hook portion for engaging an abutment on the battery housing as the battery terminal contactor is inserted in the housing, to bias the hook portion around the abutment to permit the hook portion to securely engage the abutment and secure the battery terminal contactor to the battery housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Byrd, Robert A. Orlando
  • Patent number: 6153845
    Abstract: A method for operating a stored energy circuit breaker actuation apparatus comprising the step of selecting from among manual locked, manual unlocked or automatic operations. If manual unlocked operation is selected, the method further comprises the steps of selecting local or remote operation. If local operation is selected, the stored energy circuit breaker actuation apparatus may be used by depressing a local ON switch and to turn off the circuit breaker assembly by depressing a local OFF switch and operating an operator handle. If remote operation is selected, the circuit breaker assembly may not be turned on or off. If manual locked operation is selected, the method comprises the further steps of selecting local or remote operation. The stored energy assembly may not be used to turn the circuit breaker assembly on or off either remotely or locally. If automatic operation is selected, the method comprises the further steps of selecting local or remote operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Parker A. Bollinger, Jr., Milton E. Ramey, Paul D. Reagan, Jill Stegall
  • Patent number: 6148892
    Abstract: Apparatus for inflating a wheel-mounted tire on a high production basis comprises a platen supported on a frame beneath an inflation head on which the wheel-mounted tire is received. The platen has internal air passages opening opposite a fixed support plate of the frame through which pressurized air is directed to selectively float the platen above the support plate to facilitate near-frictionless horizontal movement of the platen in all radial directions. A centering device locates the wheel-mounted tire precisely in line with the inflation head after which the air is discontinued to lower the platen back onto the support plate. The inflation head is then operated to inflate the tire. The platen is refloated and centered in a home position by a platen centering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Fori Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Koerner, Paul G. Doan
  • Patent number: 6151640
    Abstract: A field bus network of input and output devices is coupled to a control system through an I/O interface module, regardless of their data structures. The I/O interface module is coupled to the control systemthrough a serial communication port. Local input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a local I/O interface and networked input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a field bus communication adapter. A different adapter is required for each type of field bus protocol. The interface I/O module includes a microprocessor based device to generate and control the various interactions between the local devices, networked devices, and the controllsystem and also to provide for a visual and status display of the fieldbus and local I/O data local.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Buda, Jonathan H. Bailey, Larry A. Dew, Gene Steifelmeyer
  • Patent number: 6151625
    Abstract: A control system includes an Internet web interface to a network of at least one programmable logic control system running an application program for controlling output devices in response to status of input devices. The Web interface runs Web pages from an Ethernet board coupled directly to the PLC back plane and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter, a PLC back plane driver, a TCP/IP stack, and an Ethernet board kernel. The Web interface provides access to the PLC back plane by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Swales, Ronald Naismith, Richard Breinlinger, Richard Albert Baker, Jr., A. Dean Papadopoulos, Allan Tanzman, Rodolfo G. Belliardi, Dennis J. W. Dube
  • Patent number: 6142807
    Abstract: A low-current busway which includes a busbar spacing compatible with a high-current busway is described. A common bus plug connector for use with a high-current busway and a low-current busway is also described. The low-current busway includes busbars defined by first centerline-to-centerline spacing and a first thickness. The high-current busway includes busbars which include plug-in tabs with a second centerline-to-centerline spacing generally equal to the first spacing. The plug-in tabs are of a second thickness generally equal to the first thickness. The common bus plug connector includes a plurality of conducting fingers spaced at a third centerline-to-centerline spacing generally equal to the first and second spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan H. Faulkner