Patents Examined by Joshua I Rudawitz
  • Patent number: 8011872
    Abstract: A loader frame assembly is provided which comprises a support member adapted to mount a loader thereto and first and second legs each having first and second ends. The first ends are connected to the support member and the second ends are adapted for connection to a vehicle. The legs are spaced apart such that they partially define an open area such that a load can extend through the loader frame assembly. The frame assembly adapted for a rear-mounted loader vehicle, in cooperation with a rotatably mounted loader, can encompass a work area that includes the vehicle bed, the area adjacent to each side of the vehicle bed, and the area behind the vehicle bed. Due to the open area, the loader frame assembly also can work in cooperation with vehicle configurations including vehicles equipped with pushing and dumping functionality, dosed compartments, and towed devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffery S. McLellan, Robert J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8002510
    Abstract: A door and panel dolly apparatus has a frame having a telescoping center frame member with a perpendicular wheel frame member on one end and a perpendicular panel support frame member on the other end. Both the wheeled frame member and the floor support frame member have a pair of generally perpendicular panel support post extending therefrom and a swinging door clamp attached thereto. Each swinging panel clamp is positioned to swing from an open position to a closed clamping position for clamping a panel between two clamps or against a perpendicular clamp post. The pair of swinging panel clamps are each attached to a clamp post and have a rod with a clamping surface on one end thereof for threadedly adjusting each of the swinging clamps to clamp a panel of different widths. Each swinging panel clamp is a toggling clamp mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: David L. Williams
  • Patent number: 7997850
    Abstract: A small vehicle loading and transport deck for pickup trucks which includes a box-like frame which is positioned within the bed of the truck and which has a deck movably mounted thereon which is movable from an inclined and rearwardly extending loading/unloading position to a transport position wherein the deck is positioned on the top of the frame. The box-like frame provides a storage area beneath the deck so that articles or objects may be stored therein. A winch is provided for moving the deck between its loading/unloading position and its transport position and vice versa. The winch may also be used to load a disabled vehicle onto the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Ronald G. Hutchison
  • Patent number: 7997845
    Abstract: A sheet handling device for handling large sheets of glass or other sheet material, the device comprising a wheeled trolley having an upright support shaft (2), a carriage movable along the shaft (2) into a selected position, and at least two vacuum grips mounted to the carriage to engage the sheet at positions displaced in the height direction of the sheet. In another embodiment the carriage is movable by operation of a winch. The trolley is normally used in conjunction with a second like trolley so that the vacuum grips of the two trolleys engage the sheet at spaced positions along the length of the sheet. The two trolleys are preferably interconnected by releasable bracing which can be stored on the trolleys for ease of transportation. In a further embodiment there is also disclosed a glass installation guide to facilitate guidance of a large glass sheet into a frame during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Quantum Workhealth Programmes Pty, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ricardo Carlei
  • Patent number: 7993093
    Abstract: A two-axis automation system can be used to transfer and rotate wafers between horizontal and vertical orientations necessary for differing steps in a semiconductor fabrication process. The two rotational axes allow for the transfer and rotation to be done in a minimal space and with a minimum amount of swept volume. A transfer arm of the automation system can include a pair of load pads capable of loading and unloading a wafer processing chamber in a single sweep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Mimken
  • Patent number: 7993094
    Abstract: A lift truck includes a guide member secured to a mast of the lift truck and a guided member secured to a carriage vertically movable along the mast. The guided member engages with the guide member to resist twisting moments acting on the carriage and enable the carriage to move smoothly along the mast. A lift truck attachment for mounting on a lift truck includes a latching member which can restrict movement of the attachment with respect to the lift truck in a fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Tygard Machine & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Edward Tygard
  • Patent number: 7985043
    Abstract: A trailer 10 includes a frame (12) having a central axis (14) spaced between rear wheels. A plurality of storage supports (20) are supported on the trailer frame, with each storage support supporting a plurality of objects thereon. A carousel assembly (24) rotates the plurality of storage supports, and may be raised and lowered. A locking mechanism (180) is provided for engaging the carousel to prevent the carousel from inadvertently moving to the lowered position. A tire support mechanism (210) includes an elongate restraint engaging an upright tire when a ratchet mechanism renders a flexible member taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Mark Cook
  • Patent number: 7976264
    Abstract: The truck bed apparatus is provided as replacement or original equipment. An access below the platform selectively houses the individually rollingly removable ramps. Bi-directional hinges which fasten each ramp second section to each first section are lockable, giving the ramps infinite incline and decline capabilities. Bi-directional lockable hinges affix each third section to each second section for the same reason. Varied lengths of the hinged legs also provide selective angle and support for each ramp. The second and third sections can be pivotally fitted within the width of the first section and subsection, thereby providing a collapsed ramp height less than would otherwise be provided, which provides for the platform to be only marginally higher than a standard truck bed platform would otherwise be. The ramps can be collapsed and housed within the access, then removed and extended to a far greater length than the platform of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Timothy W. Pope
  • Patent number: 7967544
    Abstract: A load carrying vehicle (10) having a mobile chassis (11) and a load carrying body or tray (15) mounted to the chassis (11) so as to be capable of pivotal movement about a pivot axis defined by a releasable pivot connection (16) between the chassis (11) and body (15) for tipping of the body about a pivot axis. Alternatively the load carrying body (15) may be mounted to the chassis (11) through rollers (19) which permit movement of the body longitudinally of the chassis (11) and tilting movement about a tilt axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Anthony Hall
  • Patent number: 7963735
    Abstract: A holder manufacturing method for loading a substrate of a semiconductor manufacturing device, a batch type boat having the holder, a loading/unloading method of a semiconductor substrate using the same, and a semiconductor manufacturing device having the same are disclosed. For example, the manufacturing method of the holder of the boat for loading a semiconductor substrate includes the steps of molding a holder substrate of a pipe shape having inner and outer circumference of a predetermined size in such a manner that a lower portion of the semiconductor substrate is seated thereon; and forming a plurality of holder rings by cutting the holder rings from the holder substrate in such a manner that each holder ring is matched to a disposal interval of the semiconductor substrates in the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Terasemicon Corporation
    Inventors: Taek Young Jang, Byoung Il Lee
  • Patent number: 7953514
    Abstract: A learning marker configured such that one of learning horizontal distance information and learning vertical distance information can be learned based on detection information from a horizontal travel distance detection device or a vertical travel distance detection device upon detection of at least one edge section of the learning marker in one direction of a horizontal travel direction and a vertical travel direction of a transfer means by a learning marker detector for detecting the learning marker, and the other of the learning horizontal distance information and learning vertical distance information can be learned based on detection information from the horizontal travel distance detection device or the vertical travel distance detection device upon detection of each of both edge sections of the learning marker in the one direction by the learning marker detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaesook Kim, Toshihito Ueda
  • Patent number: 7950894
    Abstract: An implement for a machine is provided. The implement has a frame, an operator interface, and a ratchet. The operator interface is pivotally attached to the frame about an axis. The ratchet is mounted about the axis and coupled to the frame and the operator interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Michael C. Rossi, Kevin E. Pielmeier
  • Patent number: 7946796
    Abstract: A particle spreader system for efficiently evenly distributing particles (i.e. grain, seed, etc.) within a storage bin. The particle spreader system generally includes a manifold including a plurality of discharge openings and a lower opening, a plurality of gates attached to the manifold, wherein the gates incrementally adjust about the discharge openings and a plurality of chutes attached to the manifold, wherein the plurality of chutes extend outwardly from the plurality of discharge openings. The manifold suspendedly attaches to an inlet of a storage bin, wherein the manifold receives a mass of particles via the inlet and wherein the gates regulates a flow of the mass of particles through the discharge openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Custom Marketing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Halland, Kerry Johnson
  • Patent number: 7938611
    Abstract: In the present invention, a feeding apparatus comprising a plurality of feeding mechanisms is provided. The feeding apparatus comprises a power source, a base, a rotating axle, a plurality of feeding mechanisms, a plurality of connecting units and a plurality of fixing units. The power source is driven to rotate the rotating axle, and then the feeding mechanisms are rotated by the rotating axle to proceed feeding process. In addition, the rotation of each of the feeding mechanisms is controlled by the connecting units and the fixing units. However, the feeding mechanisms can be rotated together or individually to proceed feeding process. Therefore, the production capacity is increased by the feeding apparatus, as well as the cost is reduced by decreasing power needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: King Yuan Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Chi Lin, Chih-Hung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7934898
    Abstract: A wafer processing system has a wafer loading system accommodating sufficient wafer carriers to substantially maximize the processing speed capability of the processing system. Wafer carriers are placed into and removed from the loading system by one or two overhead carrier loading tracks. Carriers may be loaded or removed while other carriers are in work. One or more transfer robots may move wafers from the carriers to buffers. One or more process robots in a process module move wafers from buffers, or other locations, to processors in the process module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy A. Harris, Steve L. Eudy, Paul Z. Wirth
  • Patent number: 7914248
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided repositioning support provided by an end effector. The first method includes the steps of (1) employing the end effector to support a substrate carrier by a bottom of the substrate carrier; (2) transferring the substrate carrier from the end effector to an intermediate support location, wherein the intermediate support location supports the substrate carrier by a bottom of the substrate carrier; (3) repositioning the end effector proximate an overhead transfer flange of the substrate carrier; (4) employing the end effector to support the substrate carrier by the overhead transfer flange of the substrate carrier; and (5) transferring the substrate carrier from the intermediate support location. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin R. Elliott, Michael Robert Rice
  • Patent number: 7896603
    Abstract: A trailer (10) or container (11) includes a frame (12) having a central axis (14) spaced between rear wheels. A plurality of storage supports (20) are supported on the trailer frame, with each storage support supporting a plurality of objects thereon. A carriage assembly (24) rotates the plurality of storage supports. A powered drive (110) rotates the carriage assembly. A powered restrictor (120) limits rotational movement of a respective carriage support during transit. Flexible members 142 and 144 interconnect the drive member and driven members each mounted with respect to a storage support. The container may be transported on a motorized vehicle. A preferred tire support mechanism is provided for use when transporting tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Mark E. Cook
  • Patent number: 7891929
    Abstract: A running rail 9 and a second overhead vehicle 12 are arranged parallel to a running rail 7 for a first overhead vehicle 10 and closer to inspection devices 20 than the running rail 7. A buffer 14 is provided below the running rail 7. The overhead vehicle 12 conveys a cassette 40 between load ports 24 and the buffer 14. The overhead vehicle 10 conveys the cassette 40 between the buffer 14 and other positions. The present invention can deal with inspection devices or the like which have a high throughput by locally improving their conveying capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Yamamoto, Kenji Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7887278
    Abstract: An article is conveyed from a load port 26a for a processing device 16 to a load port 26b for a processing device 20. An overhead buffer 28 is provided for each load port 26. An overhead travelling carriage 14 can freely deliver the article to the load port 26 or to the overhead buffer 28. The article can be conveyed directly between processing devices for different processes via inter-bay routes 6, 7. Only a short time is required for conveyance. It is unnecessary to provide stockers between the intra-bay routes 6, 7 and the inter-bay route 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7887279
    Abstract: A pair of carousels is provided in an automated storage and retrieval system. A mast, a pair of elevation frames, and a pair of scara arms are provided between the carousels. One of the scara arms includes a plurality of arms stacked from lower to upper arms such that a hand of the scara arm takes a high position. The other of the scara arms includes a plurality of arms stacked from upper to lower arms such that a hand of the scara arm takes a low position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanori Izumi