Patents Examined by Anna Momper
  • Patent number: 9997191
    Abstract: A library manager to determine a relay-point library string when a particular cartridge (specific cartridge) is moved to an empty drive (target drive) for mounting. A method for determining a relay-point library string includes: receiving a command to mount a cartridge in a library string located on one side of the relay-point library string; searching for the target drive among library strings, and finding the target drive in a library string on the other side of an interposed relay-point library string relative to the library string in which the specific cartridge is located; selecting a relay-point library string based on predetermined conditions to move the specific cartridge using shuttle connections to the found target drive; and searching to determine whether or there is a newly available drive in a relay-point library string other than the selected relay-point library string before the selected cartridge reaches the selected relay-point library string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Imai, Takamasa Hirata, Masanori Kamiya, Norie Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9907229
    Abstract: Granule conveying apparatus (12) comprising two screw conveyors (21,22) are provided. Each screw conveyor comprises flighting (26,36) mounted to a shaft (27,37) and a cylindrical volume (61,62) associated therewith. Each cylindrical volume (61,62) has a length defined by the associated shaft (27,37) and a diameter defined by the associated flighting (26,36). One end of each of said two screw conveyors meet at an elbow or junction (52) where the direction of material conveyance is changed. The conveyor shafts (27,37) are supported independently from one another. The shaft of one of said two screw conveyors intersects the cylindrical volume associated with the other one of said two screw conveyors at the elbow. The close proximity of the two screw conveyors at the elbow region reduces power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO A/S
    Inventor: Jakob Bro Sorensen
  • Patent number: 9897155
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a brake disk capable of enhancing the turning performance of a motorcycle by reducing the inertia, and preventing deposition on a braking portion by reducing a temperature variation of the braking portion. A brake disk 1 is provided with a sliding disk 10, a hub disk 20, and a connection pin 31 for connecting the disks 10 and 20 to each other at plural positions in the circumferential direction of the brake disk 1. An engaging convex portion 12 projecting inwardly of the sliding disk 10 is formed on the sliding disk 10 at circumferential positions corresponding to the connection pins 31. An engaging concave portion 24 for receiving the engaging convex portion 12 is formed in the outer periphery of the hub disk 20. An insertion hole 12c for the connection pin 31 is formed in the engaging convex portion 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SUNSTAR ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 9889567
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor process equipment used to transfer semiconductor substrates between process chambers. More specifically, embodiments described herein are related to systems and methods used to transfer, or swap, semiconductor substrates between process chambers using a transport device that employs at least two blades for the concurrent transfer of substrates between processing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Dale R. Du Bois, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Karthik Janakiraman, Hari K. Ponnekanti, Sanjeev Baluja, Prajeeth Wilton
  • Patent number: 9884577
    Abstract: A crane system for loading and unloading stone slabs comprising: a front support structure including: a pair of vertical legs each secured at a bottom end to the bed or wall of a vehicle; a front horizontal cross beam secured to a top end of the vertical legs; a back support structure including: a pair of vertical legs each secured at a bottom end to the bed or wall of a vehicle; a back horizontal cross beam secured to a top end of the vertical legs; a pair of bracing members secured to the vertical legs and to each other to aid in the stabilization of the system; a horizontal lift beam slideably secured to the front and back horizontal cross beams; a trolley assembly slidably secured to the horizontal lift beam; and a hoist mechanism secured to the trolley assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Augusto P. Septimio
  • Patent number: 9884637
    Abstract: A barrel truck has a handle structure; a wheeled support, the wheels spaced apart such that the wheels can slide under a barrel when the barrel is pivoted; a cradling member pivotally coupled to the support for engaging the perimeter of the barrel but not extending past the center line of the barrel; and an upright structure having a gripping mechanism for gripping the top of the barrel adapted to have a force applied thereto to exert an upward force on the barrel to pivot the barrel off the ground causing the wheeled support to move forward and pivot with respect to the cradling member, allowing the wheels on the wheeled support to move underneath the barrel, with further force on the handle structure lifting the barrel off the ground balanced over the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Greg McFarland
  • Patent number: 9878846
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a commercial waste system including a commercial waste container and a commercial waste vehicle. The waste container includes an interior volume that may be divided by a container divider into at least two container chambers, to collect waste and/or other multiple types of recoverable (recyclable) materials without comingling. Additionally, the rear loading waste vehicle includes a hopper divider and a storage divider, such that collection of the multiple types of waste from the divided container does not comingle the collected materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Roy Andrew Strom
  • Patent number: 9882067
    Abstract: A solar panel array is formed of a plurality of solar panels juxtaposed with one another along an array axis, and has a support element having first and second support terminations disposed substantially orthogonal to the array axis, with an unobstructed spatial region intermediate of the first and second support terminations. A vehicle transports the solar panels and has wheels arranged on opposing sides thereof. First and second track structures extend along the array axis and are coupled to respective ones of the first and second support terminations. The track structures each have an elongated portion for engaging and supporting respective ones of the vehicle wheels, whereby the vehicle travels along the tracks while carrying a solar panel, and at least a portion of the vehicle is disposed within the unobstructed spatial region. One of the tracks accommodates the wiring for the solar panel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Brittmore Group LLC
    Inventors: Eric Bramwell Britcher, Jeffrey Allen Moore
  • Patent number: 9878882
    Abstract: The present invention provides a large-tonnage slender externally powered rail-mounted unloading skip, comprising an upper bin body and a lower bin body that are respectively formed by an inner lining plate and an outer plate fixed together via a number of pin shafts, a self-locking gate, and a gate opening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: Xuzhou Coal Mine Safety Equipment Manufacture Co., Ltd., China University of Mining and Technology
    Inventors: Zhencai Zhu, Gongbo Zhou, Changhua Hu, Guohua Cao, Wei Li, Guoan Chen, Yuxing Peng, Qingyong Du, Miao Wang
  • Patent number: 9878860
    Abstract: An elevation conveyance system for transporting a payload substantially vertically and transversely to a preselected release location. The system includes a track assembly comprising a substantially vertical track, one or more bin assemblies in which the payload is receivable, and one or more car assemblies configured for movement along the track. The car assembly includes a housing subassembly having a means for engaging the track to permit movement of the car assembly along the track, and a conveyor subassembly for transporting the payload substantially transversely relative to the track. The bin assembly is receivable in the housing subassembly and configured to release the payload onto the conveyor subassembly for substantially transverse transportation of the payload to the preselected release location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mattawa Industrial Services, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Kevin McSwain
  • Patent number: 9873409
    Abstract: Device for battery replacement in a vehicle with a storage space for a battery, which device includes a battery transporting device which is installed at least partly above ground and which is associated with a width direction and a horizontal depth direction which is perpendicular to the width direction, wherein the device is arranged to sense a position of the storage space. The transporting device includes a first pushing device and a second pushing device, which first pushing device displaces the second pushing device and which second pushing device supports the battery, the first pushing device is displaceable in the depth direction, and the second pushing device, in relation to the first pushing device, is both displaceable in the width direction and pivotable in relation to the supporting plane of the first pushing device. Also disclosed is a method for battery replacement using such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Sten Corfitsen
  • Patent number: 9873365
    Abstract: A transport machine is provided with a traveling device, a vehicle body, a vessel, a support device and a load detection device. At least a portion of the vehicle body is arranged above the traveling device. The vessel is provided on the vehicle body. The support device includes a slide mechanism that moves the vessel in a lateral direction with respect to the vehicle body, the lateral direction intersecting with a traveling direction of the traveling device when the transport machine travels straight. The load detection device detects a state of a load on the vessel. The slide mechanism is controlled based on a result of detection by the load detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Uetake, Yuichi Kodama, Kazunari Kawai, Shinichi Terada
  • Patent number: 9868421
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus for a robotic charging station for charging a battery of an electric vehicle. A semi-autonomous portable robot is programmed to interchange depleted rechargeable batteries disposed in an electric or hybrid vehicle. Portable battery pod dispenses batteries to semi-autonomous portable robot for swap. Semi-autonomous portable robot uses navigational sensors to transport battery to predetermined position at the battery interchange location. Battery disposition and configuration data are wirelessly communicated by battery pod to semi-autonomous portable robot. Battery pod is also in electrical communication with vehicle for timely latching and unlatching of battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ample, Inc.
    Inventor: Khaled Hassounah
  • Patent number: 9868423
    Abstract: A pressure generating apparatus for a braking system of a motor vehicle, a flange embodied on a second housing component adjacent to a first housing component, which flange is congruent with a flange-shaped portion of the first housing component, is mounted on the flange-shaped portion of the first housing component, and the second housing component completely surrounds a transmission gear set of the first housing component. Also described is a hydraulic assemblage for interacting with the pressure generating apparatus, to a braking system for a motor vehicle, and to a method for installing a braking system for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Weh, Juergen Tandler, Matthias Mayr
  • Patent number: 9868593
    Abstract: There is described a multiple rack apparatus for accommodating biological product containers unloaded from a storage for the preservation of the same interfaced with a laboratory automation system, comprising an odd number of said racks which can be housed within a platform having a number of locations, which is equal to said odd number plus one. Said racks can horizontally or vertically slide from one location to another of said platform, taking advantage of the presence of a temporarily empty location, said racks further occupying in turn an operating location which, being vertical with respect to an outlet tube of said storage, accommodates said biological product containers unloaded from said storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: INPECO HOLDING LTD.
    Inventor: Gianandrea Pedrazzini
  • Patent number: 9868426
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically controllable pressure provision device (5, 5?), particularly for a hydraulic motor-vehicle brake system, comprising a stepped bore (54), which is arranged in a housing (53,21), and a piston (51), which can be actuated by an electromechanical actuator (35, 36). The piston (51), together with the housing (53, 21), delimits a pressure chamber (50). The piston (51) is constructed as a stepped piston, the smaller-diameter piston step (51?) of which enters the smaller-diameter step (54?) of the stepped bore after a specified actuation of the stepped piston, such that the pressure chamber (50) is subdivided into a first pressure chamber (55) and a second pressure chamber (56). The invention further relates to a brake system for motor vehicles having such a pressure provision device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Hans-Jörg Feigel, Peter Drott, Kristijan Tarandek, Johann Jungbecker
  • Patent number: 9862538
    Abstract: A mobile support structure (MSS) includes a frame structure for receiving modular silos, a base moveable between transportation and support configurations, and connectors coupling with the silos. A mobile erecting assembly includes a chassis, a lift structure rotatable between transportation and mounting orientations while engaged with a silo, an engagement structure movable between first and second positions while engaged with the silo, and an actuator to move the engagement structure and silo between the first and second positions. The silo is connected to the mobile erector assembly in the transportation orientation, and the mobile erector assembly is then aligned relative to the MSS, such as by engaging an alignment member of the mobile erector assembly with a chassis alignment post of the MSS. The mobile erector assembly is then operated to move the silo to the mounting orientation, and the silo is then coupled to the MSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hau Nguyen-Phuc Pham, Christopher Todd Shen
  • Patent number: 9865485
    Abstract: An apparatus and method determines the location of wafer boat plate elements having a plurality of plate elements arranged substantially parallel to each other. At least three sensors are moved along travel paths perpendicular to the plate elements, wherein at least a first travel path is above, at least a second travel path is below the wafer boat and at third travel path is laterally spaced from the first or second travel paths above or below the wafer boat. During this movement the position of the sensors along a respective travel path is determined continuously, and it is determined, in which position a respective plate element enters the measuring area of a sensor and exits the same. A distance between a sensor and an edge of a plate element is measured and the location of a respective plate element is determined by means of the sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CENTROTHERM PHOTOVOLTAICS AG
    Inventors: Daniel Knopfle, Andreas Hartmann, Ottmar Graf
  • Patent number: 9863117
    Abstract: A coupler is configured to couple an implement to an earth moving or materials handling machine. The coupler includes a locking member for locking a pin of an implement into a coupler in the recess. The locking member is driven by a hydraulic arrangement, with the hydraulic cylinder body being formed integrally with either the coupler body or the locking member. The coupler may be adapted to accommodate a range of implement pin spacings and/or diameters, so that the coupler can be used with different implements and in particular with different makes of implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Cascade Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew James Calvert, David Aperahama Calvert
  • Patent number: 9856095
    Abstract: A precision machining/measurement device and a robot that conveys a workpiece to the device are covered by a cover, and a space covered by the cover is partitioned by a partition cover into a space where the precision machining/measurement device is installed and a space where the robot is installed. When a temperature inside the space where the robot is installed falls within a predetermined temperature range, a door provided in the partition cover is opened, and the robot supplies the workpiece to the precision machining/measurement device through the opened door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzo Ebihara, Takayuki Oda