Patents Examined by Albert Hilton
  • Patent number: 7905196
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating apparatus which is capable of generating aerosol stably. The aerosol generating apparatus includes a container which mixes a particulate material and a carrier gas to generate a fluidized bed of the particulate material; an aerosol delivery tube which sucks a part of the fluidized bed to deliver the part as an aerosol containing the particulate material and the carrier gas; an optical sensor which measures a position of the fluidized bed; and an adjusting unit which adjusts the position of the aerosol delivery tube based on an information about the position of the fluidized bed measured by the optical sensor. By moving an end of the aerosol delivery tube horizontally along and relative to the top surface of the fluidized bed, it is possible to avoid harmful effect that particle size distribution in the fluidized bed becomes locally non-uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motohiro Yasui
  • Patent number: 7900578
    Abstract: A carrying system includes first and second carrying machines each of which includes a holding unit, a base and a linkage having pivotally joined first and second links. The holding unit can be moved, by turning the second link relative to the first link which is turned relative to the base, along a substantially arc carrying route extending round the pedestal between a loading position and a processing position. The arc carrying route is closer to the pedestal with respect to an imaginary circle having its center on the pedestal and a radius corresponding to the distance between the pedestal and either of the loading position and the processing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Hirose, Katsuhiko Goto
  • Patent number: 7900576
    Abstract: A system (10) is disclosed for treating and consolidating with hardenable resins stone blocks (1) comprising at least one liquid- and gas-tight sheet (2) adapted to form a containing housing (3) of a block (1); at least one permeable layer to the resin arranged between the block (1) and the sheet (2) adapted to create a distance between the block (1) and the sheet (2) through which resin can flow; at least one closing manifold (20), comprising a central body (5) and a cover (6), such closing manifold (20) being equipped with connecting means adapted to connect the interior of the containing housing (3) to at least one pressure control duct, at least one duct (15) connected to a first vacuum pump (21), at least one air inserting duct (19) inside the containing housing (3) and sealingly passing means of at least one resin supplying duct (17) supplied by resin storing, conditioning and mixing means; and an autoclave (13). A process using the system is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Geo S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Marocco
  • Patent number: 7886683
    Abstract: An automotive paint installation providing additionally to standard paint application, automated application of small rare color shade paint volumes. The installation includes at least a secondary rare color shade paint dispensing and recovery circuit, wherein scrapers are circulated in the part of the circuit supplying painting stations, and including a distribution device for directing the fluid exiting the painting stations towards paint, solvent, or recovery vessels. A plurality of connecting pipes connect each secondary circuit to a painting station, and are provided each with a bleeding system to enable recovery and bleeding to be performed during application of a current paint color shade. A rare color shade point dispensing and recovery method use such an installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Renault SAS
    Inventors: Gérard Ageorges, Thierry Mandard
  • Patent number: 7886685
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus can meet the request for a smaller-sized compact apparatus while ensuring a sufficient immersion depth of a substrate in a processing liquid. The substrate holding apparatus includes: a substrate holder for supporting a substrate (W) by bringing a peripheral portion of a surface of the substrate (W) into contact with a first sealing member; and a substrate pressing section for lowering relative to the substrate holder so as to press the substrate (W) held by the substrate holder downward, thereby bringing a first sealing member into pressure contact with the substrate (W). The substrate pressing section is provided with a second ring-shaped sealing member which makes pressure contact with an upper surface of a ring-shaped holding section of the substrate holder, thereby sealing the peripheral region of the substrate pressing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sekimoto, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Dai, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Suzuki, Kenichi Kobayashi, Yasuyuki Motoshima, Ryo Kato
  • Patent number: 7882797
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for applying particles within a pre-determined limited area of an absorbent structure. The apparatus has: a nozzle arranged to dispense the particles on the pre-determined limited area of the absorbent structure; conduit for supplying particles by a gas flow from a particle container to the nozzle; a valve arranged between the nozzle and the particle container; and, a valve vane arranged to direct the gas flow having particles through the valve from a particle inlet to an application outlet when the valve is in a first position and to direct the gas flow having particles through the valve from the particle inlet to a residue outlet when the valve is in a second position. The apparatus also has a device for maintaining a gas flow in the application outlet when the valve is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Göran Forsbring
  • Patent number: 7874261
    Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a stage over which a substrate is to be transferred, and a levitation mechanism which levitates the substrate over the stage. The stage includes a plurality of gas spray ports (16a) to spray a gas for levitating the substrate (G), and a plurality of suction ports (16b) to take in air sprayed from the gas spray ports (16a). The plurality of gas spray ports (16a) and the plurality of suction ports (16b) are set not to be arranged on straight lines parallel to a substrate transfer direction in a predetermined length along the substrate transfer direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Masataka Sakai
  • Patent number: 7856939
    Abstract: A recirculation spin coater system includes a spin coating bowl with a having a recirculation drain and a wetting fluid chamber associated with the upper end of the inner side walls wherein the wetting fluid chamber is configured to dispense a side wall wetting fluid to inner side walls of the spin coating bowl. A vision system configured to capture images of the work piece within the spin coating bowl for quality control and work piece positioning. An annular array of light sources are surrounding sides of the spin coating bowl and are configured to illuminate the interior of the spin coating bowl for optical controls. The vision system may be utilized for both quality control and work piece positioning. The coating nozzle is configured to move between a first coating position vertically aligned with the work piece, and a second purge position vertically aligned with the recirculation drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Minor, Lisa Marie Titolo, Hung Nguyen, Steve R. Susie
  • Patent number: 7845307
    Abstract: An efficient electrostatic spray installation that can spray a wide range of conductive materials effectively while creating very small droplets with conductivities in from about 7000 pico Siemens and greater. A compact system in which one, two or more parallel sprays can be obtained at close proximity in the order of 30 to 40 mm of each other in a compact package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Wladimir Janssen
  • Patent number: 7836846
    Abstract: An insulation cover for a high voltage paint dosing apparatus, the apparatus comprising a docking head arranged to receive at least one dosing cylinder filled with paint for dosing to an applicator or gun. The docking head is arranged substantially-surrounded by the insulation cover and whereby the external surface of the insulation cover is partly covered by a conductive or non-insulating layer. A system comprising the paint dosing apparatus with the insulation cover is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ABB AS
    Inventors: Kenneth Mikalsen, Steffen Georgi, Olav Fatland
  • Patent number: 7836843
    Abstract: An improved thermal spray apparatus and method of promotes mixing of axially fed particles in a carrier stream with a heated effluent stream without introducing significant turbulence into either the effluent or carrier streams. An axial injection port includes a plurality of chevrons at the distal end of the port. The chevrons are located radially around the circumference of the distal end of the axial injection port to increase the shared area between the two flow streams at the outlet of the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sulzer Metco (US), Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Muggli, Marc Heggemann, Ronald J. Molz
  • Patent number: 7823530
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an adjustable film applicator which comprises an applicator body, a first knife, a second knife, a first fixing apparatus, a second fixing apparatus, a pair of first adjusting screws, and a pair of second adjusting screws. The first and second knife are adjusted to a first and second height by adjusting the first and second adjusting screws, wherein the second height is greater than the first height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Kueir-Rarn Lee, Juin-Yih Lai, Se-Tsung Kao
  • Patent number: 7819077
    Abstract: A method for forming a coating layer is provided according to the invention. The method includes steps of assembling a die coater comprising a first die block (12), a second die block (14), and a plurality of fasteners (40) holding the first die block and the second die block together, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners provides a compression force between the first die block and the second die block, and the first die block and the second die block are constructed to provide an internal manifold (16) and a coating slot (18), and extruding a coating material through the internal manifold and the coating slot. The coating slot can be adjusted to provide a more uniform coating slot along the length of the coating slot by adjusting the compression force of the fasteners, utilizing an offset bracket (80), adjusting the die bolt locations, adjusting the die overhang, providing a non-uniform shim (30), or a combination thereof. A die coater is additionally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Yapel
  • Patent number: 7820241
    Abstract: A device (51) for applying layers or a powder material (71) by means of an application device (52) is described, wherein the application device (52) can be moved back and forth between two end positions in order to apply a layer of material (71) and the application device (52) comprises a blade (56) for removing excess material during the application of a layer of material (71). The device (51) is characterized by a material transport device (53), by which the material can be transferred from one side of the blade (56) to the other side of the blade. The device has the particular advantage that layers of material (71) can be applied without any loss of material and is particularly applicable in a laser sintering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Inventors: Hans Perret, Thomas Halder, Jochen Philippi, Peter Keller, Gerd Cantzler, Michael Göth
  • Patent number: 7793610
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus includes: a substrate holding member configured to rotate along with a substrate held thereon in a horizontal state; a rotary cup configured to surround the substrate held on the substrate holding member and to rotate along with the substrate; a rotation mechanism configured to integratedly rotate the rotary cup and the substrate holding member; a liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a process liquid onto the substrate; and an exhaust/drain section configured to perform gas-exhausting and liquid-draining of the rotary cup. The exhaust/drain section includes an annular drain cup configured to mainly collect and discharge a process liquid thrown off from the substrate, and an exhaust cup surrounding the drain cup and configured to mainly collect and discharge a gas component from inside and around the rotary cup. Liquid-draining from the drain cup and gas-exhausting from the exhaust cup are performed independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masami Akimoto, Takayuki Toshima, Satoshi Kaneko, Kazuhisa Matsumoto, Norihiro Ito, Hiromitsu Nanba
  • Patent number: 7789037
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device serving both to lay thin layers of powder and to compact them, the device being suitable for being located inside an apparatus containing a powder or powder mixture while it is subjected to the action of a laser. The device comprises a circular cylinder (12) provided with a longitudinal groove (15) formed in an outside surface of the cylinder (12). The cylinder also has a surface (12a) adapted to compact the powder that has been deposited on a deposition zone. By moving the cylinder in rotation and translation, the powder is brought to and deposited on a tray, on which the powder is then compacted by rotating the cylinder in the opposite direction. The invention enables very thin layers of ceramic or metallic powder to be laid in accurate and uniform manner inside a sealed thermal enclosure at a temperature lying between ambient temperature and about 1200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Phenix Systems
    Inventor: Patrick Didier Teulet
  • Patent number: 7779780
    Abstract: There is provided a layer forming apparatus for forming a photosensitive layer of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, containing no bubbles in a coating liquid. In the layer forming apparatus for forming the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor through the dip coating method, a lower end port of a dipping cylinder is distanced away in a horizontal direction from a coating liquid discharge port, and the coating liquid discharge port is disposed above the lower end port of the dipping cylinder, in order to prevent a bubble from moving into a coating liquid portion used for actual coating even when a bubble exits in the course of circulation of the coating liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshioka, Masayuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7757630
    Abstract: A voltage block device, for preventing the negative electric potential from transferred to the coating material source, has a switching device including a slider which is selectively slidable between first and second positions and has an inlet port fluidly communicated with the coating material source and an outlet port fluidly communicated with the spray, a reservoir including first and second chambers, the inlet and outlet ports are fluidly communicated with the first and second chambers, respectively when the slider is at the first position, and the inlet and outlet ports are fluidly communicated with the second and first chambers, respectively when the slider is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ransburg Industrial Finishing K.K.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida, Masahito Ohno, Hidetoshi Kamaru