Patents Examined by Monica Carter
  • Patent number: 9666440
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus 100 includes a holding stage 4 that holds a central portion of a back surface of a substrate W, a motor M1 that rotates the holding stage 4, a front surface nozzle 36 that feeds a rinse liquid to a front surface of the substrate W, a back surface nozzle 37 that feeds the rinse liquid to a back surface of the substrate W, a rinse liquid control section 110 that feeds the rinse liquid through the back surface nozzle 37 after a preset time elapses since the start of feeding of the rinse liquid through the front surface nozzle 36 and a polishing head assembly 1A that polishes a peripheral portion of the substrate installed on the holding stage 4 after the rinse liquid control section 110 feeds the rinse liquid to the substrate W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Nakanishi, Kenji Kodera, Nobuhiro Yanaka
  • Patent number: 9656319
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a positioning system for electromagnetic riveting. The apparatus comprises a plate and a biasing system physically associated with the plate. The plate is configured to be positioned relative to a first workpiece, and is further configured to electromagnetically engage an electromagnetic tool. The biasing system is configured to physically engage a second workpiece. The biasing system is further configured to hold the plate in a desired position relative to the first workpiece during a number of operations performed by the electromagnetic tool while the plate is electromagnetically engaged with the first workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Branko Sarh, Harinder Singh Oberoi, Alfredo Jose Gerosa Blanch, Kevin Marion Barrick, Ray Lanier Holden
  • Patent number: 9651192
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a workpiece includes a master template, a locking assembly and a plurality of substantially planar gauge slice templates. The master template includes a plurality of positioning features. The locking assembly is connected to the master template and is movable with respect to the master template between a locked position and an unlocked position. The gauge slice templates are each associated with a workpiece engaging structure that is engageable with the workpiece for supporting the workpiece. Each gauge slice template releasably engages at least one positioning feature of the master template. Each gauge slice template engages the locking assembly, wherein the gauge slice templates are not moveable with respect to the master template when the locking assembly is in the locked position, and the gauge slice templates are moveable with respect to the master template when the locking assembly is in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Norgren Automation Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. McCallum, Timothy John Key, James R. Kalb, Michael A. Filipiak
  • Patent number: 9643337
    Abstract: The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KEYSTONE RETAINING WALL SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: David M. LaCroix
  • Patent number: 9643303
    Abstract: A protruding portion is formed on a rear side of a side plate, namely a side surface forming guide passage. The protruding portion is intended to prevent a thrust metal from being put to the guide passage with the left and right ends being in the wrong position. Accordingly, a height of the protruding portion is smaller than a depth of the oil ditch of the thrust metal, the width of the protruding portion is smaller than the width of the oil ditch. Also, regarding to the formation position of the protruding portion, when the thrust metal is truly set to guide passage, the center of the protruding portion approximately accords with the center of the oil ditch of the thrust metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takefumi Motomura
  • Patent number: 9636797
    Abstract: Among other things, a method of controlling polishing during a polishing process is described. The method includes receiving a measurement of a thickness, thick(t), of a conductive layer of a substrate undergoing polishing from an in-situ monitoring system at a time t; receiving a measured temperature, T(t), associated with the conductive layer at the time t; calculating resistivity ?T of the conductive layer at the measured temperature T(t); adjusting the measurement of the thickness using the calculated resistivity ?T to generate an adjusted measured thickness; and detecting a polishing endpoint or an adjustment for a polishing parameter based on the adjusted measured thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Xu, Ingemar Carlsson, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Doyle E. Bennett, Shih-Haur Shen, Hassan G Iravani, Wen-Chiang Tu, Tzu-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 9624082
    Abstract: A pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly having a fulcrum and a saddle which slidably mate with a conventional pry bar and which provide a greater force onto a work material than the conventional pry bar alone. The pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly easily and quickly slides away from the work material when a conventional pry bar function is desired and slides toward the work material when an enhanced application force or greater pry bar end displacement is required. The assembly uniquely mates with or is held with the pry bar end whereby the assembly retains a static position relative to the pry bar during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Wynn Provines
  • Patent number: 9623546
    Abstract: A multipurpose hand held tool includes a handle and one or more tools. The multipurpose tool further may include a multi-layered plier head. The multipurpose tool also may include a flashlight detachably coupled to the handle. In this manner, the multipurpose tool may incorporate multiple tools and accessories for completing various tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Shane Keng
  • Patent number: 9623536
    Abstract: A device for polishing metallic workpiece surfaces. The device includes a tool holder which can be exchangeably fitted into a rotationally driven working spindle of a program-controlled milling machine, and a polishing tool, which is fastened in the tool holder. The device also includes a tool shank and a polishing head at the free end thereof, and is coupled to a polishing agent supply which arrives at the effective surface of the polishing head. The tool shank contains a chamber, which can admit a pressure medium and is at least partially filled with the polishing agent, wherein this chamber is in connection with the polishing head by way of a channel and wherein the polishing head has polishing agent permeable material or it contains passages for the polishing agent that is forced out of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: DECKEL MAHO Seebach GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias Nüsslein
  • Patent number: 9623847
    Abstract: A support winch, in particular for utility vehicle trailers, is configured to provide for a height adjustment, and comprises a steep thread drive, wherein the steep thread drive comprises a threaded spindle, wherein a pitch of the thread is adapted for rapid height adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhold Riedl
  • Patent number: 9610666
    Abstract: A lifting apparatus includes a lifting part that can be moved in linear direction between a rest position and a working position. At least one drive device is disposed for moving the lifting part. Each drive device includes a toggle lever mechanism, having a first toggle supported pivotally on the lifting part and a second toggle supported on a base part. A positioning device prespecifies the position of the lifting part in lifting direction and in a direction transverse to lifting direction in working position. To do so, said toggle preferably has a stop surface against which the lifting part is pushed into working position by the at least one drive device. In this working position, the toggle joint angle ? of the toggle lever mechanism is smaller than 180° so that the two toggles and are outside the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Walter Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Schindler, Simon Kümmerle
  • Patent number: 9609989
    Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner for bedding. The vacuum cleaner for bedding includes a casing defining an outer appearance, a dust movement device moving dust into the casing, a dust collection member disposed accessible into the casing, the dust collection member collecting the dust moved into the casing by the dust movement device, a drawing device drawing the dust collection member received in the casing to the outside of the casing, and a locking device preventing the drawing device from be voluntarily moved in a direction in which the dust collection member is drawn to the outside of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changook Lee, Changdo Park, Taekyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9610671
    Abstract: A system, fixture and method for media finishing a cluster of airfoils are provided. The fixture may include a base having a first end and a second end, a receptacle disposed on the base and configured to receive the stator cluster, and at least one mock airfoil disposed at each of the first and second ends of the base in alignment with the airfoils of the cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Micah Beckman, Thomas James Raymond
  • Patent number: 9597778
    Abstract: A method and tool assembly (10) for unloading and reloading spring energy from a torsion bar (11) in a torsion bar suspension system of a motor vehicle. The tool assembly (10) includes a generally C-shaped body (14) having a screw shaft (24) threaded through a boss (22) in a lower section (18) thereof. An anti-rotation stem (38) includes a knurled flat face (40) which increases versatility of the tool assembly (10) by enabling anti-slip operation with various vehicle types. A counter-torque tool perch (46) extends from the lower section (18) of the tool body (14) for applying a counter-rotational torque to the body (14) during use of the tool assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Larry John Verbowski
  • Patent number: 9597759
    Abstract: A positioning assembly for positioning a rotary part to be machined includes a machining fixture and a positioning device having an elastically-deformable diaphragm concentrically mounted to the fixture and defining an annular loading zone which receives an axial force substantially parallel with a center axis of the fixture. The positioning device has circumferentially-spaced engaging segments, fixed to the diaphragm and extending away therefrom, which have contact members that are displaced radially to frictionally engage the rotary part when the axial force is applied to the loading zone of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Yuwen Li, Amr Elfizy
  • Patent number: 9586306
    Abstract: An abrasive jet cutting system may include a differential pressure measurement apparatus configured to measure a differential pressure between points in an abrasive supply system. The differential pressure may be used to determine one or more conditions of the jet and the abrasive delivery. The measured differential pressure may be used in a feedback control system, feed forward control system, and/or an alarm or safety system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shijin Zhang, Scott Veenhuizen, Axel Henning
  • Patent number: 9586561
    Abstract: An automatic automotive detailing tool utilizes a motorized tool and a plurality of interchangeable head attachments. The motorized tool is particularly suited for use with both cars and boats. The tool is adapted to receive and operate a plurality of interchangeable head attachments. The interchangeable head attachments can perform a variety of functions ranging from cleaning to waxing to buffing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Julius K. Nganga
  • Patent number: 9579825
    Abstract: Methods and systems for imaging and cutting semiconductor wafers and other microelectronic device substrates are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system for singulating microelectronic devices from a substrate includes an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray source spaced apart from an X-ray detector. The X-ray source can emit a beam of X-rays through the substrate and onto the X-ray detector, and X-ray detector can generate an X-ray image of at least a portion of the substrate. A method in accordance with another embodiment includes detecting spacing information for irregularly spaced dies of a semiconductor workpiece. The method can further include automatically controlling a process for singulating the dies of the semiconductor workpiece, based at least in part on the spacing information. For example, individual dies can be singulated from a workpiece via non-straight line cuts and/or multiple cutter passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Tom A. Muntifering, Paul J. Clawson
  • Patent number: 9573240
    Abstract: A honing tool holder that provides a capability for automatically feeding the honing elements or stones when in the bore of a work piece, and for automatically stopping the feeding when a particular condition such as a bore size, is reached, so as to enable use of an in-process adjustable feed honing tool in a machine tool, machining center, or the like, lacking a feed mechanism or system. The holder can also include apparatus to automatically prevent feed past a limit. Both the feed force and feed limit can be adjustable, including by simple movements of the tool holder by the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sunnen Products Company
    Inventor: Daniel R. Cloutier
  • Patent number: 9577413
    Abstract: A cable guide actuator apparatus is disclosed for guiding a conductor cable onto a wheel assembly, the actuator apparatus including a framework operatively coupled to the wheel assembly. A pair of roller assemblies is pivotally coupled to respective ends of the framework, each having a roller member capable of maintaining the conductor cable in the groove of the wheel assembly. Each roller assembly is pivotally movable between a deployed configuration at which roller members are adjacent the groove and a released configuration at displaced from the groove. A locking assembly extends between the pair of roller assemblies and is selectively movable between a locked configuration that maintains the pair of roller assemblies at the deployed configuration and an unlocked configuration that allows movement to the released configuration. The roller assemblies are biased toward the released configuration when the locking assembly is unlocked. The locking assembly may be unlocked remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Steve Powell, Jamie Allen Ferguson, Steve Kulcsar