Patents Examined by Michael S Lowe
  • Patent number: 10767340
    Abstract: A reinforcement structure that reinforces a boom of a work machine having a top plate, a pair of side plates, and a bottom plate forming an inner space therebetween. The plates are configured to form a curved portion at the middle of the boom along the longitudinal direction. The structure comprises a baffle disposed inside the boom rearward of the curved portion across the inner space. The baffle is a plate laterally bent so as to have a convex shape extending forward in the longitudinal direction. The reinforcement structure helps prevent twisting of the boom while dispersing stress concentrations in rear upper portions of the side plates compare to conventional flat baffle plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Toru Amaya, Masahiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 10759065
    Abstract: A machine tool includes: an exterior cover covering a machining area where a workpiece on a worktable is machined by a machining tool; an articulated robot arranged inside the exterior cover and configured to replace the workpiece; a controller configured to control the posture of the articulated robot and the coordinate point at which a hand of the articulated robot is positioned; and a protective cover arranged inside the exterior cover and configured to protect at least the hand from scattered matter arising due to machining of the workpiece when the articulated robot is set at a predetermined posture or when the hand is moved to a predetermined coordinate point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10738438
    Abstract: An attachment for use with a bucket of a prime mover comprises a base member having fixed shape in a longitudinal direction of the base member between first and second ends with first and second pivoting members pivotally connected at the first and second ends of the base member, each actuated for pivotal movement about a respective transverse axis by a distinct actuator. The second pivoting member forms a base for releasably receiving different attachment ends such as a secondary arm member carrying a respective pivoting member independently actuated of the base member's pivoting members that is disposed on a secondary arm member end distal to a connection end thereof for connecting to the base member, an extension member without any actuators and pivoting members, and a tool section which is designed for carrying out a specific function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventor: Brian Cameron McDonald
  • Patent number: 10737381
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame, a first arm coupled to the frame at a shoulder axis having a first upper arm, a first forearm and at least one substrate holder serially and rotatably coupled to each other, a second arm coupled to the frame at the shoulder axis where shoulder axes of rotation of the arms are substantially coincident, the second arm having a second upper arm, a second forearm and at least one substrate holder serially and rotatably coupled to each other, and a drive section connected to the frame and coupled to the arms, the drive section being configured to independently extend and rotate each arm where an axis of extension of the first arm is angled relative to an axis of extension of the second arm substantially at each angular position of at least one of the first arm or the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Caveney, Alexander G. Krupyshev, Martin R. Elliot, Christopher Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 10720356
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus having a transfer arm configured to transfer two substrates between a transfer chamber and a processing chamber having two mounting tables, the transfer arm holding the two substrates in a state where the two substrates overlap each other with a gap between the two substrates. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a lower substrate detection sensor configured to detect an edge portion of a lower substrate when the lower substrate is transferred; and an upper substrate detection sensor configured to detect an edge portion of an upper substrate when the upper substrate is transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Keiichi Nagakubo, Yoshiaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10668960
    Abstract: A plow conversion kit includes a frame having a pivot plate configured to attach to a vehicle and a frame pivotally attached to the pivot plate. A first actuator is attached to the frame. A pivot bracket is directly pivotally attached to the frame at a first pivot and to the first actuator at a second pivot. A mounting bracket is directly pivotally attached to the frame such that the mounting bracket is adapted to releasably attach to a work piece. A mount arm is directly pivotally attached to the mounting bracket and to the pivot bracket at a third pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Richard A. Morrison, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10633819
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-level mechanism for controlling a tilting movement of an equipment (15) mounted to an equipment connector (5) of a main arm (3) of a lifting arrangement of a construction machine, preferably a wheel loader (1), upon pivoting said main arm (3). The self-level mechanism is configured to at least partially compensate any tilting movement of the equipment (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunfeng Zhao, Sean Plante
  • Patent number: 10583566
    Abstract: A transport device, a transport method for transporting a semi-finished product, and a processing device for processing a semi-finished product are provided. The transport device has at least one positioning device for positioning the semi-finished product in relation to the transport device and at least one retaining device for retaining the semi-finished product on the transport device. The positioning device can be inserted into an engagement region of the semi-finished product at least in some segments and the retaining device can be arranged on a surface of the semi-finished product at least in some segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jan Hodde
  • Patent number: 10569374
    Abstract: Provided is a production facility (1), including: a plurality of production units (10A to 10E) coupled to each other in a separable manner; a guide rail (2) extending in a unit coupling direction; and transfer means (3) capable of sequentially transferring, by moving along the guide rail (2), a workpiece from the production unit (10A) toward the production unit (10E). Each of the plurality of production units (10A to 10E) includes: a processing section (13) configured to execute predetermined processing; a control section (14) configured to electrically control an operation of the processing section (13); a rail member (20) constructing the guide rail (2); and a slide member (30) constructing the transfer means (3). Each of the plurality of production units (10A to 10E) further includes: a connector (15, 15) configured to electrically connect the control section (14) thereof and the control section (14) of the adjacent production unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nao Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 10525604
    Abstract: An electric pole-type automatic warehouse robot comprises a frame; mecanum wheels and drive wheels provided at a bottom of the frame, with the mecanum wheels being located at four corners thereof and the drive wheels being located at the middle of tow opposite sides thereof; a drive motor provided on the frame and connected to the drive wheels; a barrier module provided at a head of the frame; a rotating pallet module provided at an upper portion of the frame; a rotating motor provided within the rotating pallet module; electric poles provided on the frame and located at a bottom of the rotating pallet module; a hole provided in the frame; a first camera arranged above the hole; a second camera arranged below the hole. The robot provides an automatic operation mode with simplified mechanism design of robot, so as to increase the reliability, load-bearing capacity, running speed and security of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ZHUINENG ROBOTICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD
    Inventor: Zhe Liu
  • Patent number: 10508860
    Abstract: A vacuum drying system includes: a support platform, which is used to support the substrate, wherein the support platform comprises a plurality of sub-platforms which are arranged along a predetermined direction and there are gaps between the adjacent sub-platforms; a mechanical arm which comprises a plurality of strip structures at positions corresponding to the gaps, and is used to place the substrate onto the support platform or move the substrate out of the support platform. Comparing to the prior art wherein the substrate is supported by a plurality of needle-shaped supports in the vacuum drying process, in the technical solution of the present disclosure, the contact area between the support platform and the substrate is much larger, which can reduce the local pressure on the substrate, thereby avoiding the display brightness mura of the substrate caused by the supporting operation in the vacuum drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusheng An, Qingyong Meng
  • Patent number: 10497604
    Abstract: A transportation stage for transporting a photomask is provided. The transportation stage includes a vacuum source and a supporting plate. The supporting plate has a number of passages connected to the vacuum source. The transportation stage further includes a membrane positioned on the supporting plate. A number of through holes are formed on a middle region of the membrane and communicating with the passages. The transportation stage also includes an acoustic wave transducer positioned on the membrane and is configured generate an acoustic wave along the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Ching Lee, Yu-Piao Fang, Yu-Wei Liao
  • Patent number: 10492368
    Abstract: A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a compound angle joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. When in a transport position, the upper auger assembly portion is offset from the lower auger assembly portion by a transport offset angle such that the upper auger assembly portions folded across the front of the grain cart in a non-obstructive and non-protruding manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ronald J. Schlimgen, John Walvatne, Christopher M. Self
  • Patent number: 10472794
    Abstract: A front loader including: a pair of masts provided to a machine body frame of a work vehicle in a detachable manner; a pair of lifting arms coupled to the masts in a vertically rotatable manner; and a work equipment mounted to the lifting arms. Each lifting arm includes a front lifting arm attached to one of the masts and a rear lifting arm attached to the work equipment, each of the front lifting arm and the rear lifting arm has a hollow, rectangular cross-section. The rear end portion of the front lifting arm is inserted into the front end portion of the rear lifting arm, and is welded. The side plate of the rear lifting arm at a location corresponding to the insertion portion has a protruding portion that extends along the side plate of the front lifting arm, and the protruding portion is welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Iida
  • Patent number: 10475691
    Abstract: A substrate transfer hand is configured to sandwich a substrate between a plurality of receiving members and a gripping member and to fix the substrate by moving the gripping member with an actuator. The plurality of receiving members each have a flat plate-shaped support portion mounted on the main hand body, a substrate outer periphery holding portion supported on the support portion and configured to hold an outer periphery of the substrate, and a substrate lower surface holding portion supported on the support portion and configured to hold a lower surface of the substrate. The substrate outer periphery holding portion has a portion provided vertically from the support portion and configured to hold the substrate in contact with the outer periphery of the substrate. The substrate lower surface holding portion has a portion inclined from an outer peripheral side toward an inner side of the substrate to be held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Maruyama, Yasuyuki Motoshima, Yohei Eto
  • Patent number: 10450151
    Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of container carriers. The container carriers each comprise at least one magnetically active device such as, for example, at least one permanent magnet, and carry a sample container. The system further comprises a transport plane to carry the container carriers and a number of electro-magnetic actuators being stationary arranged below the transport plane. The electro-magnetic actuators move a container carrier on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the container carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Heise, Hans Schneider
  • Patent number: 10431489
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus for supporting a substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for supporting a substrate includes: a support surface; and a plurality of substrate contact elements protruding from the support surface, wherein the plurality of substrate contact elements are formed of a material having a hardness less than or equal to a hardness of silicon, having a low adhesion, having a coefficient of static friction large enough to prevent sliding, having a surface roughness less than or equal to 10 Ra, and that is electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Pulkit Agarwal, Song-Moon Suh, Glen Mori, Steven V. Sansoni
  • Patent number: 10403533
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading substrates in an inspection station is disclosed herein. In one embodiment a loading module for a substrate inspection station is disclosed herein. The loading module includes two arms, a plurality of substrate grippers, two rotatable support members, a conveyor, and at least one actuator. Each arm has a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is opposite the first end. Each substrate gripper is disposed at a respective end of each arm. Each rotatable support member is coupled to a respective one of the arms. The conveyor is disposed between the rotatable support members. The at least one actuator is configured to rotate the arms about the rotatable support members to selectively position the grippers over the conveyor in a location that allows a substrate held by the gripper to be released onto the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Markus J. Stopper, Asaf Schlezinger
  • Patent number: 10384338
    Abstract: A robotic vehicle is provided with an extendable arm and a mandible structure. The mandible structure includes a pair of mandibles with toothed portions that cooperatively engage such that the mandibles may be opened and closed by applying a force to only one of the pair of mandibles. The mandible structure hangs freely from the extendable arm and is balanced so that the mandible structure naturally maintains a substantially vertical orientation. In the closed position, the mandible structure defines an interior cavity suitable for securely grasping a ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL
    Inventors: Sean Michael Greene, Benjamin Gerard Gravel, Aaron Joseph Ruff, Sean Michael McDonald, Brian Alexander Nelson, Austin Laboy Schick, Colin Daniel Russell
  • Patent number: 10358789
    Abstract: A loader attachment system is configured so as to detachably attach a loader to a vehicle by detachably attaching a mast of the loader to a loader mount fixed on the vehicle. The loader attachment system includes a support device, a location device, and an engagement device. The support device is configured to support the mast on the loader mount so that the mast is rotatable relative to the loader mount. The location device is configured to locate the mast supported on the loader mount by the support device at an attachment position. The engagement device is configured to engage the mast at the attachment position with the loader mount so as to prevent the mast from rotating in a direction to detach the mast from the loader mount. The support device, the location device and the engagement device are configured independent of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jarrod Hyder