Patents Examined by Eileen P. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11969851
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a skate sharpening system comprising an operative unit and a base, the operative unit comprising a central body, the central body comprising a skate receiving slot, a skate clamp being positioned adjacent to the skate receiving slot such that a skate can be secured within the skate receiving slot for a sharpening operation, the operative unit further comprising a grinding unit, the grinding unit being configured to translate along a length of the slot such that the grinding unit can conduct the sharpening operation on the skate that is secured within the skate receiving slot, the operative unit being positioned over at least a portion of the base, the base comprising a swarf-receiving cavity, the operative unit and the base being pivotably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Velasa Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Beaudet, Ivan D. Goryachev, Brian Austin, Russell K. Layton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11969848
    Abstract: The tool includes a base including a rigid carrier and a flexible collar encircling the rigid carrier; an elastically compressible interface; and a flexible buffer including a central portion that is located in line with the rigid carrier and a peripheral portion that is located transversely therebeyond. This peripheral portion is connected to the carrier exclusively via the interface and via the collar, wherein the collar is configured so that the tool is elastically deformable between a rest position that it adopts in the absence of stress and a reference position in which the transverse end second surface of the flexible buffer is pressed against a reference surface that is spherical and of radius included between 40 mm and 1500 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Eric Gacoin, Pierre Kress, Jean Stephane, Jonathan Saulny
  • Patent number: 11958160
    Abstract: A method for slicing a workpiece with a wire saw which includes a wire row formed by winding a fixed abrasive grain wire having abrasive grains secured to a surface thereof around multiple grooved rollers, the method including feeding a workpiece to the wire row for slicing while allowing the fixed abrasive grain wire to reciprocatively travel in an axial direction thereof, thereby slicing the workpiece at multiple positions aligned in an axial direction of the workpiece simultaneously. The method includes: supplying a coolant for workpiece slicing onto the wire row when the workpiece is sliced with the fixed abrasive grain wire; and supplying a coolant for workpiece drawing, which differs from and has a higher viscosity than the coolant for workpiece slicing, onto the wire row when the workpiece is drawn out from the wire row after the slicing of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kitagawa, Shiro Toyoda
  • Patent number: 11958164
    Abstract: A two part retaining ring is described. A rigid upper portion has an annular recess along its inner diameter. An annular wearable lower portion has an inner diameter, an annular extension defined by the inner diameter and a vertical wall that is perpendicular to a surface of the second portion and opposite to the inner diameter. The annular extension fits into the annular recess of the annular first portion. A bonding material is on the vertical wall of the annular second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Van Der Veen, Steven M. Zuniga
  • Patent number: 11951594
    Abstract: To uniformly bring an abrasive into contact with a workpiece and to achieve desired surface roughness. A polishing tool sliding on a narrow part of the workpiece includes an abrasive retaining layer configured to allow an abrasive to be retained on a surface, and an elastic layer that is stacked on the abrasive retaining layer and is configured to press the abrasive retained in the abrasive retaining layer against the workpiece. The elastic layer is preferably elastically deformable over a sliding stroke of the polishing tool, and a driving unit that causes the polishing tool to slide on the workpiece is preferably connected to the polishing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosei Kawahara
  • Patent number: 11938590
    Abstract: A shot treatment apparatus ejects shot material from a nozzle towards a workpiece, and has the nozzle; a nozzle moving mechanism; and a three-dimensional information obtaining sensor; a pattern storage portion storing a nozzle reference operation pattern when the workpiece is installed at a reference position and a reference pose within the treatment compartment; a model data storage portion storing workpiece three-dimensional model data; a position/pose displacement calculating portion comparing the position and pose information and reference position and pose data when the three-dimensional model data is at the reference position in the reference pose to calculate a displacement in a position and pose of the workpiece from the reference position and pose data; and a nozzle movement control portion correcting the pattern based on the displacement in the position and pose, and controlling the nozzle moving mechanism to move the nozzle based on the corrected pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Michiaki Hirao, Akiyoshi Suyama, Shoji Isobe
  • Patent number: 11938585
    Abstract: A sander apparatus for use with a drill press having a chuck defining a drill chuck axis. The sander apparatus includes a base assembly and a sander assembly supported by the base assembly, the base assembly locating the sander assembly in a predetermined location relative to the drill press chuck, in which a central pin axis of the sander assembly is aligned with the drill chuck axis. When a portion of an upper shaft of the sander assembly is secured in the chuck, rotation of the chuck about the drill chuck axis causes corresponding rotation of a body element of the sander assembly about the central pin axis. The base assembly supports the sander assembly in the predetermined location thereof as a workpiece is engaged with one or more abrasive elements on the body element while the body element rotates about the central pin axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Stringtech Workstations Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. McConville
  • Patent number: 11931856
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a polishing pad for use in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process of semiconductors, a process for preparing the same, and a process for preparing a semiconductor device using the same. In the polishing pad according to the embodiment, the size (or diameter) and distribution of a plurality of pores are adjusted, whereby the polishing performance such as polishing rate and within-wafer non-uniformity can be further enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SK ENPULSE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunghoon Yun, Hye Young Heo, Jang Won Seo
  • Patent number: 11890719
    Abstract: In a method of polishing a silicon wafer, a final polishing step includes an upstream polishing step and a subsequent finish polishing step. In the upstream polishing step, as a polishing agent, a first alkaline aqueous solution containing abrasive grains with a density of 1×1014/cm3 or more is first supplied, and the supply is then switched to a supply of a second alkaline aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and abrasive grains with a density of 5×1013/cm3 or less. In the finish polishing step, as a polishing agent, a third alkaline aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and abrasive grains with a density of 5×10?13/cm3 or less is supplied. Thus, the formation of not only PIDs but also scratches with small depth can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuhei Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11890712
    Abstract: A tool, a device, and a method for zonal polishing of optical workpieces, wherein the tool has a preformed cap for forming a polishing surface, and the tool is placed against the workpiece that is to be polished in such a way that the tilt angle of the axis of rotation of the tool to the normal of the contact surface on the workpiece remains at least essentially constant and/or the size of the contact surface remains at least essentially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Schneider, Stephan Huttenhuis, Andreas Fedoseew, Nadine Geist
  • Patent number: 11883929
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of efficiently performing a metal surface processing. The abrasive peening apparatus includes a processing tank storing abrasive particles and peening liquid, and including a bottom portion in which a workpiece is immersed in the peening liquid; a dispensing chamber having a plurality of recesses on an upper surface, and disposed in the bottom portion to dispense the peening liquid; a stirring nozzle disposed at a center of the recess directing vertically upward and connected to the dispensing chamber to eject the peening liquid; a peening nozzle immersed inside the processing tank to eject the peening liquid toward the workpiece; and a moving device moving the peening nozzle relative to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUGINO MACHINE LIMITED
    Inventor: Taiki Matsui
  • Patent number: 11878388
    Abstract: A polishing pad, a polishing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package using the same are provided. In some embodiments, a polishing pad includes a sub-pad portion and a top pad portion over the sub-pad portion. The top pad portion includes a plurality of grooves having a first width and a plurality of openings having a second width different from the first width, and the openings are located in a center zone of the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Cheng Wang, Ching-Hua Hsieh, Yi-Yang Lei
  • Patent number: 11865663
    Abstract: A polishing pad or polishing tape with abrasive particles (e.g., diamond, aluminum-oxide, silicon-carbide, etc.) having an average particle size of between approximately 0.5 micrometers (?m) and 5.0 ?m, which are strongly adhered with water-insoluble binders to a flexible and lens-conformable substrate having a cushion so that there is little-to-no shedding or release of the particles from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: George Shuai, Gwo Shin Swei
  • Patent number: 11865666
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing chemical mechanical polish on a wafer includes a polishing head that includes a retaining ring. The polishing head is configured to hold the wafer in the retaining ring. The retaining ring includes a first ring having a first hardness, and a second ring encircled by the first ring, wherein the second ring has a second hardness smaller than the first hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Chien Hou, Ching-Hong Jiang, Kuo-Yin Lin, Ming-Shiuan She, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Yung-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 11865670
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for removal of wheel rim burr which comprises a main body, plural positioning wheels, an eccentric wheel disposed on the main body, and at least two brush wheels disposed between two corresponding positioning wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alex Global Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 11865669
    Abstract: A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Barry A. Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, David Paul Donnay
  • Patent number: 11850695
    Abstract: A disc changing system for a robotic defect repair system is presented. The system has a first abrasive disc and a second abrasive disc. The first and second abrasive discs are coupled to a liner. The system includes an abrasive disc placement device configured to automatically: remove the first abrasive disc from the liner, transport the first abrasive disc to a robotic tool of the robotic defect repair system, and place the first abrasive disc on a backup pad coupled to the robotic tool. The system also includes an abrasive disc remover configured to automatically remove the first abrasive disc after receiving a removal signal. The system also includes a controller configured to send an instruction to the disc placement device to remove, transport and place the first abrasive disc, instruct the robotic tool to conduct an abrasive operation. The controller is also configured to send the removal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Mark W. Orlando, Nathan J. Herbst, Christie L. Vitale, Marc Eberwein, Brett R. Hemes, Jonathan B. Arthur, Thomas J. Strey
  • Patent number: 11845159
    Abstract: A center shaft machining apparatus includes: a grinding structure that moves on a machining central axis while rotating about the machining central axis and machines an end surface on one end side of a workpiece arranged on the machining central axis; an end portion support structure that supports an opposite end side of the workpiece; and a shaft portion support structure that supports a shaft support portion set at an intermediate portion of the workpiece. The end portion support structure includes an eccentric mechanism capable of supporting an opposite end of the workpiece in a state where a workpiece central axis of the workpiece is eccentric with respect to the machining central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hamamatsu, Kazunari Inamori
  • Patent number: 11839944
    Abstract: A floating non-contact ultrasonic enhanced flexible sub-aperture polishing device and method are disclosed, an X-axis moving platform, a Y-axis moving platform, a Z-axis moving platform and a workpiece swinging platform in linkage control ensure normal lines of a tool and a workpiece are kept at an identical angle to realize sub-aperture processing; the ventilation main shaft acts air pressure on the ball spline's end portion to form an axial thrust to let the tool axially float; a dynamic balance among hydrodynamic pressure, air pressure and dynamic pressure is performed on the polishing liquid by rotation of the flexible tool; a tiny gap between the tool and workpiece is formed by elastic deformation of the flexible tool due to the dynamic pressure; a shearing force for removing materials is generated when the polishing liquid flows through the gap; a cavitation effect in the gap is formed by ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wule Zhu, Fang Han, Lu Wu, Anyu Sun, Bingfeng Ju
  • Patent number: 11833704
    Abstract: Dynamic regulation of contact pressures in a blade sharpening system is provided. An example multiphase grinding wheel has a grinding face with one or more abrasive concentric rings for sharpening the cutting blade of the log saw machine, and one or more padded concentric rings consisting of fiber padding. Sharpening with the multiphase grinding wheel improves cut quality, increases blade life, removes glues and varnishes from the cutting blade, reduces blade deformation, and hones the edge of the cutting blade. A pneumatic tensioning system uses air bladders to apply dynamic cushioning and processor-controlled contact pressure between the grinding wheels and the cutting blade during sharpening. The fiber-padded grinding wheels and the air bladder tensioner provide improved sharpness of the cutting blade and longer life for the mechanical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Fuzion LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence E Baker