Patents Examined by Michael S Lowe
  • Lifting arrangement for a construction machine
    Patent number: 10344449
    Abstract: A lifting arrangement for a construction machine comprises a main arm (3) which is provided with a pivot connector (4) at a proximate end thereof and an equipment connector (5) at a distal end thereof, a main arm support means (6) for pivotably supporting said pivot connector (4) of said main arm (3), wherein said main arm support means (6) is movable in a direction which includes at least a component in the front-rear direction with respect to said frame arrangement. Further a guiding means (7) is provided which is engaged to said main arm (3) at a guided portion (10) of said main arm (3) positioned between said pivot connector (4) and said equipment connector (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Edward Wagner
  • Transfer apparatus, transfer system, and transfer method
    Patent number: 10336558
    Abstract: This invention provides a transfer apparatus for loading/unloading a work into/from a processing apparatus, comprising: a main body being able to move in a horizontal direction; an arm portion pivotally provided with respect to the main body; a hand portion pivotally provided with respect to the arm portion, and configured to grip the work; and a control unit configured to horizontally swing the arm portion and move the main body in order for the hand portion to linearly move the work, when the hand portion facing the processing apparatus loads/unloads the work into/from the processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HIRATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Matsunari, Akemichi Yamamoto
  • Robot for transferring article
    Patent number: 10340167
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a robot for transferring an article: a body configured to be moved while hanging on a moving rail; a holding unit configured to hold the article; a two-way sliding unit configured to be connected to the holding unit and slide the holding unit to both sides of the body; and an elevation-driving unit configured to be installed at the body and connected to the two-way sliding unit to elevate the two-way sliding unit along a height direction of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-Gyu Yoo, Jae-Yoon Kim
  • Robot end effector applying tensile holding force
    Patent number: 10322513
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a substrate handling robot includes a robot body, a robot arm mounted to the robot body, and an end effector mounted to the robot arm. The end effector includes first and second fingers each having one or more pins protruding therefrom, and a first motor for axially rotating the first finger. At least one pin of the first finger and one pin of the second finger are configured to mate with corresponding holes in the substrate. Rotation of the first finger imparts a tensional force to the substrate, suitable for reducing sag in ultra-thin substrates on the order of 20 to 800 microns. In certain embodiments, both fingers are rotatable, synchronously or independently. In certain embodiments, rotation is replaced by translational or pivoting planar motions, also imparting tensional force to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GENMARK AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Todorov, Zlatko Manolov Sotirov
  • Gripping apparatus including protective member for protecting object and robot apparatus including the gripping apparatus
    Patent number: 10300604
    Abstract: A gripping apparatus is configured to grip an object by a claw. The gripping apparatus includes an electric circuit passing through a first claw body, the object, and a second claw body, and a conduction judgment part for judging as to whether or not the electric circuit is electrically conductive. The electric circuit is shut off by a protective member, which protects the object, but becomes electrically conductive when the claw bodies and the object are in direct contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Ochiishi
  • Industrial robot
    Patent number: 10276416
    Abstract: An industrial robot may include a first hand and a second hand, each of which is provided with a first hand portion including a substrate-mounting portion and a second hand portion having multiple substrate-mounting portions; a first arm rotatably joined to the first and second hand portion; a second arm rotatably joined to the first and second hand portion; an arm support portion; a column portion for holding said arm support portion; a first hand portion-rotating mechanism; a second hand portion-rotating mechanism; third hand portion-rotating mechanism; a fourth hand portion-rotating mechanism; a first arm-rotating mechanism structured to rotate said first arm with respect to said arm support portion; and a second arm-rotating mechanism structured to rotate said second arm with respect to said arm support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kitahara, Shigeyuki Kaino
  • Plow conversion kit
    Patent number: 10179986
    Abstract: A plow conversion kit includes a frame having a frame proximal end, a frame distal end, and a top surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end. A fixed bracket is fixed to the top surface of the frame. The fixed bracket has a fixed bracket proximal end and a fixed bracket distal end. A hydraulic cylinder has a cylinder proximal end pivotally connected to the fixed bracket and a cylinder distal end extending distally of the fixed bracket. A mounting bracket has a lower end pivotally connected to the fixed bracket distal end. A mount arm has a lower end pivotally connected to the mounting bracket. A pivot bracket has a lower end pivotally connected to the frame distal end, a central portion pivotally connected to the cylinder distal end, and a top end connectable to an upper portion of the mount arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Richard A Morrison, Sr.
  • Conveyance system and conveyance method of conveyance system
    Patent number: 10160625
    Abstract: A conveyance system includes a robot and a suspending device. The robot moves and conveys a workpiece in a horizontal direction. The suspending device includes a suspending mechanism, a lifting unit, and a support mechanism. The suspending mechanism suspends the workpiece, and the lifting unit lifts up and down the workpiece. The support mechanism supports the suspending mechanism such that the suspending mechanism is movable in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Hashimoto
  • Clamshell scoop attachment for work vehicle
    Patent number: 10132055
    Abstract: A front-mounted clamshell scoop or shovel arrangement mounts onto the snowplow mounting bracket of the frame of a snowplow assembly when the blade has been removed. The scoop can be closed and lowered to scoop and pick up work-site debris or other materials, raised so the materials can be transported to a collection site, and the jaw portion is rocked to an open position to allow the material to drop from the clamshell scoop. In controls for the snowplow assembly serve to raise and lower the scoop and to open and close it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: James Sharkey
  • Substrate transport apparatus
    Patent number: 10134621
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus including a frame, multiple arms connected to the frame, each arm having an end effector and an independent drive axis for extension and retraction of the respective arm with respect to other ones of the multiple arms, a linear rail defining a degree of freedom for the independent drive axis for extension and retraction of at least one arm, and a common drive axis shared by each arm and configured to pivot the multiple arms about a common pivot axis, wherein at least one of the multiple arms having another drive axis defining an independent degree of freedom with respect to other ones of the multiple arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Caveney, Ulysses Gilchrist, Alexander Krupyshev
  • Working machine
    Patent number: 10072391
    Abstract: A working machine includes: a boom base portion including: an inner side wall; and an outer side wall disposed opposite to the inner side wall; a lift link disposed on a rear portion of the boom base portion; and a boom cylinder disposed in front of the lift link. One end side of the lift link is inserted between the inner side wall and the outer side wall and is pivotally supported on the boom base portion. The other end side of the lift link is pivotally supported on the machine body. One end of the boom cylinder is inserted between the inner side wall and the outer side wall in front of the lift link and is pivotally supported on the boom base portion. The other end of the boom cylinder is pivotally supported on the machine body by below the lift link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Takemura, Shunichiro Mori, Hiroshi Koyamatsu, Hayato Ido, Shigeki Morishita
  • Workpiece conveying apparatus for a pressing machine
    Patent number: 10052678
    Abstract: The workpiece conveying apparatus for a pressing machine includes: a rotary base rotatable about a substantially perpendicular axis; a first arm pivotally supported by the rotary base so as to be rockable within a substantially perpendicular plane; a coupler pivotally supported on a distal end side of the first arm so as to be rockable; a second arm having a proximal end side that is mounted to the coupler so as to be rockable; a cross bar mounted to a distal end side of the second arm so as to be rockable within a plane substantially parallel to a rocking plane of the second arm; and a workpiece holding device mounted to the cross bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: AIDA ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Takeda
  • Dual arm robot
    Patent number: 10029363
    Abstract: A robot assembly for transporting a substrate is presented. The robot assembly having a first arm and a second arm supported by a column, the first arm further having a first limb, the first limb having a first set of revolute joint/line pairs configured to provide translation and rotation of the distal most link of the first limb in the horizontal plane. The assembly further having a second arm further having a second limb, the second limb comprising a second set of revolute joint/link pairs configured to provide translation and rotation of a distalmost link of the second limb in the horizontal plane. The first limb and second limb further having proximal revolute joints having a common vertical axis of rotation and a proximal inner joint housed in a common housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Izya Kremerman
  • Robot traveling system provided with cable track, robot system, and machining system
    Patent number: 10016890
    Abstract: A robot traveling system, which enables sufficient space to be secured by a machine that is installed along a rail. The robot traveling system is provided with a rail, a carriage which can move along the rail and which supports a robot, a drive mechanism which drives the carriage, and a cable track which houses a cable which has a connecting end which is connected to the robot and is laid at the bottom side of the rail along that rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ochiishi, Masaru Oda
  • Workpiece conveyor system
    Patent number: 10011433
    Abstract: A workpiece convey system comprising two conveyor devices which alternately convey workpieces from a source area to a destination area, wherein each of the two conveyor devices is provided with a workpiece holding part which can hold a workpiece, and a movement mechanism which moves the workpiece holding part back and forth between the source area and the destination area, the two conveyor devices being arranged so as to match the positions where their respective workpiece holding parts are stopped within the source area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihide Maeda, Hiroshi Inutake
  • Atomic layer deposition apparatus and loading methods
    Patent number: 10011904
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus in which a plurality of ALD reactors are placed in a pattern in relation to each other, each ALD reactor being configured to receive a batch of substrates for ALD processing, and each ALD reactor comprising a reaction chamber accessible from the top. A plurality of loading sequences is performed with a loading robot. Each loading sequence comprises picking up a substrate holder carrying a batch of substrates in a storage area or shelf, and moving said substrate holder with said batch of substrates into the reaction chamber of the ALD reactor in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Picosun Oy
    Inventors: Sven Lindfors, Juha A. Kustaa-Adolf Poutiainen
  • Parallel link robot, hand for parallel link robot, and parallel link robot system
    Patent number: 10005188
    Abstract: A hand for parallel link robot includes: a holder configured to extract a workpiece from an extraction portion and hold the workpiece; and a swing-up mechanism portion configured to swing the workpiece held by the holder up centering around a turning axis to change a posture of the workpiece. A parallel link robot includes: a link mechanism portion; and the hand mounted to the link mechanism portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Toru Akama
  • Machine tool facility
    Patent number: 9981353
    Abstract: A machine tool facility includes the following: machine tools; a first pallet stocker in which a plurality of pallets are arranged in parallel with a predetermined space therebetween; a second pallet stocker in which a plurality of pallets are arranged in parallel with a predetermined space therebetween, and which is disposed in parallel with the first pallet stocker; a conveyance car that conveys a pallet in a direction parallel to the row of the pallets of the first pallet stocker; a first transfer device for transferring the pallet between the first pallet stocker and the conveyance car; and a second transfer device for transferring, by horizontal movement, the pallet between the first pallet stocker and the second pallet stocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaaki Miyazaki
  • Lifting methods, assemblies and systems
    Patent number: 9950907
    Abstract: An assembly, method and system for lifting a package defining an internal aperture. The lifting assembly has an elongate handle configured for attachment to a vacuum lift system, and a lifting tool. The lifting tool has a connecting end configured to attach the lifting tool to the distal end of the handle and a lifting end insertable into the aperture of the package. The lifting end can define an internal chamber. A pin or spindle of a package processing apparatus is insertable into the internal chamber so that the lifting tool can place the package on the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Wes Moore, Charles H. Russell
  • Clean transfer robot
    Patent number: 9943969
    Abstract: A robot with improved cleanliness for use in a clean environment is disclosed, having a uniform flow through the open interface between the clean environment and the interior of the robot housing, passing the particle generation area to an exhaust port, keeping the particles from the clean environment. The uniform flow reduces or eliminates the back flow, and further allows the scalability of the open interface to prevent particles generated from moving mechanisms within the robot housing to contaminate the clean environment. The uniform flow can be established by designing the flow dynamic, centering the exhaust port, or by restricting the flow along the elongated slot, for example, by uniformly restricting the flow along the elongated slot, or by implementing a restrictor along the elongated slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Brooks Automation (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: David Barker, Robert T. Lobianco, Bhavesh Amin