Patents Examined by Joseph J. Hall, III
-
Patent number: 6524174Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a rotatable spindle, a head detachably connected to the spindle, and a clamp for clamping outer circumferential surfaces of the spindle and the head to one another so that the head may be driven by the spindle. The clamp has an annular clamping frame sized to encircle the outer circumferential surfaces of the spindle and the head, a projection disposed on one end of the clamping frame, a lever pivotally connected to the other end of the clamping frame, and a fastener pivotally connected to the lever and configured to hook over the projection. Once the fastener is hooked over the projection, the lever is pivoted to force the ends of the annular clamping frame together and thereby produce a clamping force that secures the spindle and head to one another. The clamp can be manipulated easily and with a simple motion to clamp the head to the spindle. Also, the parts of the clamp generate little mechanical friction.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Gi-Sung Bae, Min-Gyu Kim
-
Patent number: 6520845Abstract: A polishing apparatus comprises a polishing member that has a wide stable polishing range to perform effective polishing, even if a rotation axis moves away from the edge of a workpiece. A polishing member holder holds the polishing member, and a workpiece holder holds the workpiece to be polished. A drive device produces a relative sliding motion between the polishing member and the workpiece. At least one holder of either the polishing member holder or the workpiece holder is rotatable about a rotation axis and is tiltable with respect to other holder. Such one holder is provided with a pressing mechanism to stabilize orientation or desired posture of the one holder by applying an adjusting pressure to the one holder at a location away from the rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Kazuto Hirokawa, Hirokuni Hiyama, Yutaka Wada, Hisanori Matsuo
-
Patent number: 6467378Abstract: A single-directional ratchet wrench structure includes a mating block which has an end portion opposite to the ratchet wheel and formed with an insertion groove, so that the C-shaped snap ring may be rested on the insertion groove of the mating block, such that the mating block may be retained in position by the C-shaped snap ring. Thus, the mating block will not be in contact with the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel during operation of the wrench.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Inventor: Ching Chen
-
Patent number: 6435492Abstract: A Die Bonder or Wire Bonder has a suction device for pulling flat and holding down a curved substrate equipped with or to be equipped with a semiconductor chip onto a supporting surface of a plate. The plate contains at least one cavity open towards the supporting surface in which there is a vacuum gripper made out of flexible material, whereby the vacuum gripper is lowerable into the cavity during transport of the substrate and which is raisable above the level of the supporting surface to apply suction to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: ESEC Trading SAInventors: Stefan Behler, Reto Schubiger, Beat Zumbuehl
-
Patent number: 6421861Abstract: A multipurpose tool includes a main shaft axially slidably inside a housing, a wire crimper holder coupled to the main shaft and locked by a spring-supported locking device, a set of wire crimper elements selectively fastened to the wire crimper holder by screw means for crimping electric wires at any of a variety of wire distribution blocks, a wire cutting tool coupled to a front side of the main shaft adapted to cut electric wires by means of a scissors action, and a hook and a lever respectively pivoted to a rear side of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2001Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Inventor: Yin-Ho Cheng
-
Patent number: 6382610Abstract: A tool to reduce the rotational force on a pipe to be held in a chain vise includes a curvilinear or inverted V-shaped base which saddles the pipe to be held. A U-shaped frame is mounted to the base such that one or more roller bearings may be mounted between the opposing sides of the U-shaped frame. The roller bearings provide a bearing surface for the chain of the chain vise, allowing the chain to be tensioned without applying torque to the pipe to be held. A pair of the tools may be spaced apart upon the periphery of a large pipe with the chain passing over the roller bearings of each tool.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Inventor: Ronnie L. Corbin
-
Patent number: 6312322Abstract: A hand held grinder includes a hollow cowl and a vibration absorber mounted in the cowl. The vibration absorber includes a longitudinal through hole defined through center parallel to the axis of the cowl, and a radial through hole defined in the vibration absorber. The radial through hole communicates with the longitudinal through hole. A socket is defined in the vibration absorber and communicates with the longitudinal through hole and the radial through hole. A transmission device penetrates the vibration absorber and forms a pivot pivotally received in the socket of the vibration absorber. The transmission device has a hollow threaded shaft formed on the exterior end and a neck formed on the other end. A main shaft eccentrically connects and drives the transmission device. The main shaft includes an enlarged external end and a shank extending from the enlarged external end along the axis of the main shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventors: Po-Fu Chang, Yung-Yu Lin
-
Patent number: 6250181Abstract: A head-to-handle interface for a striking tool having a plane of symmetry has a web in the plane of symmetry and sidewalls around the periphery of the web except for the direction of joining the handle to the head, the web and sidewalls forming socket areas on both sides of the web, such that a handle shaped to engage the sockets is joined to the head in a manner that bending stresses are greatly alleviated at and near the head-to-handle interface. In one embodiment a variable weight system provides for a user varying the weight of the head of a striking tool. In another aspect, a nail-pulling slot is provided with significantly tapered inner walls.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Douglas Tools, Inc.Inventor: Todd Douglas Coonrad
-
Patent number: 6241585Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a rotatable carousel and multiple carrier head assemblies coupled to the carousel. Each carrier head assembly includes multiple carrier heads each of which can hold a single substrate. The apparatus includes multiple substrate processing stations separated from one another in substantially equal angular intervals. The carrier head assemblies can be positioned in angular alignment with the stations and can be rotated from one station to another station. At least one polishing station includes a fixed abrasive sheet and a fluid bearing surface that provides an upward pressure against the lower surface of the polishing sheet. The carrier head assembly is positioned so that the substrates are in angular alignment with the fluid bearing disposed below the polishing sheet, and the substrates are brought into contact with the polishing sheet.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: John M. White
-
Patent number: 6241227Abstract: A cart is configured to handle replaceable plates used on the blade of a plow or grader. The cart includes a wheeled frame and a plate holder configured to support the plate lengthwise in a generally upright orientation. The plate holder is supported on the frame by a parallelogram linkage that permits adjustment of the plate holder, and thereby the plate carried by the holder, without varying the orientation of these components. An inventive plate installation method is also disclosed. The method involves placing at least one plate on the height-adjustable plate holder carried on the mobile frame. The attachment holes defined in the plate are then aligned with the attachment holes defined in the blade.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: SPX CorporationInventors: Brian James Berdan, Brian C. Peterson, Walter James Buller
-
Patent number: 6238279Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering a slurry used in a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus is disclosed. Magnets are provided along the piping network between a slurry reservoir and the CMP apparatus. A magnet may also be placed adjacent to the slurry reservoir to prevent iron oxide particles from traveling with the slurry to the CMP apparatus. The magnets attract iron oxide particles from the slurry and remove those particles from the slurry prior to polishing. This reduces the amount of defects caused by the iron oxide particles in the slurry.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignees: ProMOS Technologies, Inc., Mosel Vitelic, Inc., Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Feng-Yeu Shau, Rurng-Chien Chang, Champion Yi
-
Patent number: 6238273Abstract: Methods for predicting polishing characteristics of polishing pads in mechanical or chemical-mechanical planarization of microelectronic substrate assemblies, and methods and machines for planarizing microelectronic substrate assemblies. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the invention includes ascertaining a surface parameter of a bearing surface of at least one raised feature projecting from a base portion of a raised feature polishing pad. The raised feature, for example, can be a pyramidal structure having a first cross-sectional area at the base portion of the pad and a second cross-sectional area at the bearing surface. The first cross-sectional area is generally greater than the second cross-sectional area. To ascertain the surface parameter of the bearing surface, one particular embodiment of the invention involves determining an indication of the surface area of the bearing surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Scott A. Southwick
-
Patent number: 6233770Abstract: A device which contains a combination of a writing implement, stylus, or turning tool on one end and a turning tool rod on the other. The device contains a hollow casing, a forward end tip containing a central passageway for extension and retraction of a forward work piece and a rearward tip containing a central passageway for extension and retraction of a turning tool rod. The forward work piece is reversible and contains a writing point or a turning tool. The turning tool rod is reversible and contains a turning tool at each end. One device contains a single extension/extraction slot having forward, medial, and rearward openings or notches. In this alternative, the device contains actuator guide pins or latch pins which allow only the forward work piece, only the tool rod, or neither of these to be extended at any one time. Alternatively, the device contains forward and rearward extension/retraction slots, each having forward and rearward openings or notches.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Inventor: Frank Garcia
-
Patent number: 6073865Abstract: A process is disclosed that is utilized in particular in the preparation of fibrous material of used paper. Hot fibrous pulp friable materials, which are especially suitable for dispersing, are first formed in a compact, high-consistency fibrous material in the form of a plug. In a preferred embodiment, the plug of materials is pushed against a rotor that is equipped with pulverization elements. The pulverization elements remove the fibrous pulp friable materials and distribute them in a disintegrated condition in a processing chamber. In the processing chamber, super-heated vapor is supplied via vapor supply lines, which calefies the fibrous pulp friable materials, for example, by condensation.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1998Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbHInventors: Almut Kriebel, Volker Niggl, Erich Peters, Josef Schneid, Hans Schnell
-
Patent number: 6062967Abstract: A slightly bendable nail file which reveals indicia in the form of a pictorial image. The file comprises a flexible foamed synthetic resin core sandwiched by paperboard panels. Each paperboard panel has a layer of transparent grit bonded thereto. At least one paperboard panel has a photograph formed thereon, the photograph being outwardly visible through the transparent grit.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Inventors: Edward J. Calafut, Jeffrey L. Johnson
-
Patent number: 5983688Abstract: A press brake is provided for performing one or more bending operations on a product, such as a sheet metal part, whereby the selection and laying out the clues necessary for bending the product is facilitated by detecting the kinds and layout of the dies loaded in the press brake. A display device is also provided for displaying the layout of the dies, checking interferences between the product and the dies, and displaying the details and features of the product.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Inventors: Tetsuya Anzai, Sunao Haga, Takara Kibe, Katsumi Koyama, Takahiro Shibata
-
Patent number: 5954625Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for embossing paper webs using opposing embossing and imprint rolls. In the preferred embodiment the embossing roll and the imprint roll have differing diametrical dimensions, thereby producing differing velocities through the nip, causing the embossing projections, of the embossing roll to sweep through modified imprint cells of the imprint roll, thereby affecting an automatic sweeping of accumulated debris from the imprint cell as the embossing operation take place.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Industrial Engraving & Manufacturing, Corp.Inventor: Edward J Giesler, Sr.
-
Patent number: 5931040Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rough rolling mill for rolling a slab of material into a rough bar through a hot rolling process. The rolling mill reduces material temperature drop thereby preventing a decrease in productivity. The rolling mill train for producing a rough bar from a slab of material has at least two close mill couples at an outlet side thereof. Each close mill couple is composed of two rolling mills arranged in tandem close to one another to roll the material. The at least two close mill couples are arranged so that the material being rolled is not acted upon by adjacent close mill couples at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Tomoaki Kimura, Shigezi Kaneko
-
Patent number: 5910052Abstract: A method of making a knob and ferrule for a captive screw is disclosed, the knob integrally attached to the screw, the ferrule attachable to a panel. The method of making the knob includes providing an aluminum alloy base metal for the knob, pressing by cold-forming the base material into a generally cylindrical cup-shaped article using at least one pressing operation, the cup having a generally cylindrical side wall, removing any base material situated outside the perimeter of the cup-shaped cylindrical article, and providing a hole in the bottom of the cup, coaxial with the hollow cylindrical walls of the cup, thereby forming the knob.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1998Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Ellis, Edward A. McCormack, Harry L. Dickerson
-
Patent number: 5906129Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for rolling a roll material through a roll stand having work rolls and support rolls and having devices for balancing and positively and negatively bending the work rolls mounted in chucks of the work rolls. The process includes setting a balancing force by moving the work rolls against the support rolls without clearance when the roll gap is open by using the piston-cylinder units for positive and negative roll bending, setting the pressure in the piston-cylinder units for negative bending so as to attain the roll gap correction needed under load to control the profile and flatness of the roll train and setting the pressure in the piston-cylinder units for balancing and positive bending higher than the amount of balancing force needed.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1998Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Mannesmann AGInventor: Herbert Quambusch