Patents Examined by Glenn F Myers
  • Patent number: 11155972
    Abstract: System for deploying and collecting road sticks. A loading frame is mounted on a vehicle and comprises a road stick depot. A stick collecting device is arranged on a first clamp in a stick handling frame. A stick-deployment device is arranged movable back and forth along a beam in the driving direction of the vehicle. The stick-deployment device comprises a funnel, rotational drives, a ground plate and drive means to move the stick-deployment device vertically. The system is arranged to deploy and collect road sticks while the vehicle is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ROADTECH AS
    Inventor: Peder Kristian Strømsvåg
  • Patent number: 11142924
    Abstract: A vehicle connection system of a multi-story building, may include a building having a plurality of floors, provided with an elevator moving between the plurality of floors, and having at least one station provided inside or outside of the building so that the vehicle is configured to be docked to the at least a station; an elevator board provided at a bottom portion of the elevator to allow the vehicle to be loaded to the elevator or unloaded from the elevator and moving between floors of the building when the elevator is driven; a parking robot which is placed in a standby state on the elevator board, and when the vehicle enters the elevator board, allows the vehicle to be loaded on the elevator board and moved to a docking point; and a server communicatively connected to the building, the elevator board, and the parking robot, to manage statuses of the stations, and designate the docking point when the vehicle enters the elevator, and transmit the same to the elevator board and the parking robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Jin Ho Hwang, Sang Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 11145527
    Abstract: A method for transporting a cassette pod for containing semiconductor wafers is provided. The method includes transporting a cassette pod configured to receive a semiconductor wafer with a transporting apparatus. The method further includes supplying a gas from a cylinder into a housing of the cassette pod. The cylinder is externally positioned on the housing. The method also includes detecting a gas pressure in the cylinder with a detection element. In addition, the method includes issuing a signal to the transporting apparatus when the gas pressure in the cylinder is lower than a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wei-Yu Lai, Hung-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 11135108
    Abstract: A ramp apparatus of a door for a vehicle is provided. The ramp apparatus includes a door configured to open and close an interior of a vehicle, the door having an interior space, a guide unit installed in the interior space of the door, wherein the guide unit is configured to be slid to be extracted to an outside of the door or to be inserted into the door, and a ramp mechanism installed in the guide unit, wherein the ramp mechanism is configured to be rotatable, the ramp mechanism comprising a plurality of ramp panels connected to each other and rotatable with respect to each other, wherein the ramp panels are configured to be folded when being located in the interior of the door and to be unfolded when being extracted to the outside of the door by the guide unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Min Han Kim, Jae Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11139192
    Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method. A first ID block takes a substrate from a carrier placed on a carrier platform and sends the taken substrate to one of six treatment layers. Moreover, a second ID block returns the substrate, sent from the treatment layer, for example, to a carrier placed on a platform. This allows the first ID block to transport many substrates to the six treatment layers arranged in an upward/downward direction more rapidly. Moreover, this simultaneously allows the second ID block to transport many substrates, having been sent from the six treatment layers arranged in the upward/downward direction, to the carrier more rapidly. As a result, a throughput of a substrate treating apparatus can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Joji Kuwahara, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 11136205
    Abstract: An auger can be drivingly coupled to an input shaft of a wheel reduction gearbox. The wheel reduction gearbox can drivingly couple the input shaft to an output shaft of the wheel reduction gearbox. The output shaft can be drivingly coupled to a sweep end wheel. The sweep end wheel can include a plurality of tread brackets, a wheel plate, and an adjustable coupling corresponding to each of the tread brackets. Each adjustable coupling can selectively couple one of the tread brackets to the wheel plate in one of a plurality of radial positions. Each of the plurality of radial positions can correspond to the tread bracket being located at a different radial distance from a central axis of rotation of the wheel plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CTB, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam K. Gutwein, Mark S. Dingeldein, Jeffrey E. Walker
  • Patent number: 11135960
    Abstract: A loading ramp assembly comprises a ramp body, a pivot bar, a first clamp and a second clamp. The ramp body includes a detent. The pivot bar includes a bore that receives the detent. The first clamp is disposed on the first side of the pivot bar and the second clamp is disposed on the second side of the pivot bar. The proximal end of the ramp body is rotatably connected to the pivot bar at a position on the pivot bar between the first clamp and the second clamp. The ramp body is rotatable on the pivot bar from a loading position to a stowed position and is also inwardly and outwardly slidable on the pivot bar. The first clamp and second clamp can assume a loosened configuration and a clamped configuration. In the loosened configuration the pivot bar is rotatably positionable such that the bore can assume a selected angular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ETRAILER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Perotti, Thomas Bross
  • Patent number: 11124106
    Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle lift. In particular, the present invention is directed to a vehicle lift that has an adjustable vehicle receiver mount that is vertically adjustable and horizontally adjustable. The vehicle receiver mount has two lifting arms and two support arms pivotally attached. The lifting arms are each pivotally attached to a platform shoe and the support arms are attached to vertical rotation cups. The extruded aluminum vehicle platform is pivotally mounted on four pivot arms. The pivot arms are pivotally attached to the platform. The lift is attached to the vehicle receiver mount and is also attached to a crossbar mounted between the two lifting arms. The drive is preferably a single unit hydraulic drive. The vehicle receiver mount also has a towing receiver. The vehicle platform preferably has two channels with tethering and anchoring hardware, a vehicle stop and entrance ramp mounted on the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Brad Christian
  • Patent number: 11127616
    Abstract: A substrate accommodation device includes a casing, a gas supply that supplies a gas into the casing, and a transfer structure which retains substrates vertically spaced apart from each other and vertically transfers the substrates first-in-first-out from a carry-in position to a carry-out position within the casing. The gas heats or cools the substrates as the substrates are transferred first-in-first-out from the carry-in position to the carry-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: NISSIN ION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koyu Ueno, Masatoshi Onoda
  • Patent number: 11124391
    Abstract: An adaptor including a pair of lifting beams for lifting two or more shipping containers in a side by side configuration, each container having corner fittings provided with lifting/fastening sockets. Each lifting beam is designed to extend across one end of the top of the containers to be lifted and has pairs of connectors designed to connect to the lifting sockets provided in the tops of the containers. Each lifting beam, or connecting beams extending between the lifting beams, have sockets for detachable connection with an associated crane or lifting machine to lift the adaptor and containers. Each lifting beam is also a continuous extendable component having first and second portions which are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BLOK Container Systems Limited
    Inventors: Martin Clive-Smith, Edward Henry Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11129317
    Abstract: A reel holder includes: a plate-shaped rotating plate; multiple reel support portions evenly arranged in a circumferential direction about the center of the rotating plate, and supporting the tape reels such that each of the tape reels is rotatable about the center thereof; and a rotating plate support portion supporting the rotating plate such that the rotating plate is rotatable about the center of the rotating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Motowaki
  • Patent number: 11127617
    Abstract: A storage device for use with at least one batch furnace for batch treatment of wafers supported in a wafer boat is disclosed. The storage device comprises a cassette storage carousel for storing a plurality of wafer cassettes on rotatable platform stages. A carousel housing bounds a mini-environment chamber in which the platform stages are accommodated. A gas recirculation circuit of the storage device subsequently comprises a gas inlet channel, a gas inlet filter, the mini-environment chamber, a plurality of gas outlet openings in a bottom wall of the carousel housing, a plenum housing bounding a plenum chamber, a plenum chamber outlet, a gas circulation pump connecting the plenum chamber outlet to an inlet end of the gas inlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Adriaan Garssen
  • Patent number: 11121016
    Abstract: A method for controlling a conveyance system includes transmitting, by a specific conveyance vehicle specific transfer location information to a management device, extracting from correspondence information by the management device, specific communication-device address information corresponding to the specific transfer location information received from the specific conveyance vehicle, and transmitting to the specific conveyance vehicle by the management device the specific communication-device address information extracted, and executing by the specific conveyance vehicle using the specific communication-device address information received from the management device communication with a first communication device connected to a first semiconductor manufacturing device to transfer a FOUP between the first semiconductor manufacturing device and the specific conveyance vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Kitamura, Tetsuya Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 11121015
    Abstract: A substrate transport system includes a carrier having a housing forming an interior environment having an opening for holding at least one substrate and a door for sealing the opening from an outside atmosphere where when sealed the interior environment is configured to maintain an interior atmosphere therein, the housing including a fluid reservoir exterior to the interior environment and configured to contain a fluid, forming a different atmosphere in the fluid reservoir than the interior atmosphere, to form a fluidic barrier seal that seals the interior environment from an environment exterior to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Babbs, Robert T. Caveney, Robert C. May, Krzysztof A. Majczak
  • Patent number: 11111080
    Abstract: A bin sweep auger unplugging system for unplugging a central unloading sump in a storage bin. The bin sweep auger unplugging system generally includes an auger having a driven shaft with auger fighting, a drive unit having a drive shaft, and a clutch connected between the drive shaft and the driven shaft. The clutch selectively transfers the rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft of the auger. The drive shaft includes a clump breakup component that breaks up the clump of granular material above the unloading sump when the drive shaft is rotated. The clutch is disengaged when breaking up a clump of granular material to prevent the rotation of the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Superior Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: Claire M. Rauser, Jory T. Skalsky
  • Patent number: 11103842
    Abstract: A device and method for loading pellets. A funnel includes a means for loading pellets into a reactor tube, and a means for quickly and easily measuring the elevation of pellets in the reactor tube while the reactor tube is being loaded. A vacuum-assist device may be used to pick up and transfer a desired volume of porous pellets while removing dust from the porous pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Tubemaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K Cornett, Clifford L Johns
  • Patent number: 11105117
    Abstract: A bollard setting and installation system for efficiently installing a bollard wall without any restrictions relating to proximity to water or flood plains. The bollard setting and installation system generally includes a setting frame which is positioned on a ground surface. A plurality of bollards is positioned on the setting frame in a desired spacing and orientation to form a bollard wall. A vehicle having a vehicle arm connected to a lifting frame is positioned such that the bollards are secured to the lifting frame by clamps in the desired spacing and orientation. The vehicle may then move the lifting frame to position the lower ends of the bollards in an opening in the ground surface. Concrete may be poured to encapsulate the lower ends of the bollards. The lifting frame may then be removed, with the bollard wall being free-standing in the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TGR Construction, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Fisher, Gregory L. Schafer
  • Patent number: 11096843
    Abstract: A wheelchair lift includes a base, and an arm slideably supported by the base. A chair support is rotatably supported by the arm. A linkage is supported by the arm and is extendable relative to the chair support from a coiled position to a straightened position. A motor is supported by the arm and is connected to the linkage. The linkage is coiled about the motor in the coiled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Emily Mascarenas, David Johnston, Philip Bigos, Michael Antonio Ciavaglia
  • Patent number: 11097933
    Abstract: A swivel base is provided on a trolley so as to be able to swivel around a vertical axis, and a fork can be slid in a horizontal direction between an advanced position and a retracted position by a sliding mechanism capable of moving up and down along a pillar erected on the swivel base. Thus, it is possible to realize a configuration in which an empty-box skid is loaded in one direction and unloaded in another direction by means of the swiveling swivel base, without employing a configuration in which a plurality of members is supported so as to be able to swivel around different vertical axes. A movable range of the sliding mechanism (a movable range of the fork) in a vertical direction is therefore not significantly limited, and a transfer position of the empty-box skid in the vertical direction can be set to a lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nagasawa, Rui Suzuki, Daiji Sone
  • Patent number: 11084621
    Abstract: A method for using a mobile waste storage device is provided. First, a self-propelled storage device with a mobile waste storage device is provided and includes a storage body having a waste receiving space and a plurality of body fastener receiving passageways and a pair of cover sections flexibly attached to the storage body and extending over each other when covering the waste receiving space, each cover section having a cover fastener receiving passageway extending through an end thereof and positioned to correspond with another cover fastener receiving passageway extending through an opposite cover section and one of the plurality of body fastener receiving passageways when the pair of cover sections overlap to cover the waste receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: New Heights LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Jay Beiler