Patents Examined by Ronald P Jarrett
  • Patent number: 11964828
    Abstract: To provide a method of controlling a robot and a suction gripping device capable of preventing occurrence of wrinkling in a workpiece having a thin packaging material with a content contained therein. A method of controlling an industrial robot according to an embodiment, configured to suction and grip a workpiece having a thin packaging material with a content contained therein, includes: pressing a suction pad against the content with the packaging material interposed therebetween and, upon starting the suction, suction-gripping the workpiece by the suction pad. Starting suction may be performed in a state in which the suction pad is pressed to the content with the packing material therebetween or before the suction pad is pressed to the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Atsuko Sugano, Hiroshi Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 11948817
    Abstract: Exemplary substrate processing systems may include a transfer region housing defining an internal volume. A sidewall of the transfer region housing may define a sealable access for providing and receiving substrates. The systems may include a plurality of substrate supports disposed within the transfer region. The systems may also include a transfer apparatus having a central hub including a first shaft and a second shaft concentric with and counter-rotatable to the first shaft. The transfer apparatus may include a first end effector coupled with the first shaft. The first end effector may include a plurality of first arms. The transfer apparatus may also include a second end effector coupled with the second shaft. The second end effector may include a plurality of second arms having a number of second arms equal to the number of first arms of the first end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles T. Carlson, Jason M. Schaller, Luke Bonecutter, David Blahnik
  • Patent number: 11945706
    Abstract: A handling robot (100), which relates to the field of warehouse logistics, comprises: a mobile chassis (10); a storage shelf (20) mounted to the mobile chassis (10), the storage shelf (20) comprising a plurality of layered plate components (21) distributed at different heights, each layered plate component (21) comprising a layered plate (210) for placing materials; a handling device (40), comprising a handling assembly (42), the handling assembly (42) being configured to handle a material to a layered plate (210) at the same height as the handling assembly (42), or to handle a material out of a layered plate (210) at the same height as the handling assembly (42); and a lift component (30), configured to drive the handling device (40) to lift relative to the storage shelf (20) so that the handling assembly (42) is at the same height as one layered plate (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HAI ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhe Kong, Qingxin Zhan, Yeguang Chen
  • Patent number: 11939173
    Abstract: A transportation head for a microchip transfer device capable of minimizing mechanical and chemical damage to a microchip, a microchip transfer device having same, and a transfer method thereby, and the transportation head includes a head body having a pickup area and a dummy area; a first protruding pin disposed in the pickup area of the head body; and a liquid droplet attached to the first protruding pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dahl-Young Khang, Sung-Hwan Hwang, Jia Lee, Sung-Soo Yoon, Su Seok Choi, Kiseok Chang, Jeong Min Moon, Soon Shin Jung, Sungpil Ryu, Jihwan Jung
  • Patent number: 11915956
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical feeding and wafer inserting integrated machine, comprising a rack and a silicon wafer transfer device provided on the rack; a carrying-transporting water tank for carrying and transporting silicon wafers is provided on one end of the rack; the rack is further provided with a feeding unit for conveying the silicon wafers in the carrying-transporting water tank to a silicon wafer transfer belt a wafer inserting unit for inserting the silicon wafers into wafer baskets is provided on one end, away from the feeding unit, of the silicon wafer transfer device, and a wafer basket arraying mechanism is provided on the other end of the wafer inserting unit; and a washing manipulator for transferring grouped wafer baskets to a washing procedure is further correspondingly provided on the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TIANJIN HUANBO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Lihui Jin, Hua Yang, Mingqiang Geng, Xiaoguang Zhao, Chenpeng Du, Qing Yin
  • Patent number: 11884523
    Abstract: A grapple-heel rack having a frame, a grapple, and first and second angle-enabler catches. A grapple attachment (which may be or may include a universal joint) may be used to support the grapple from a nose of the frame. A mechanical grapple return system may be used to return the grapple from anon-neutral position to a neutral position. At least one method for using the grapple-heel rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TREKLOS, LLC
    Inventor: Brett Wade Eells
  • Patent number: 11884496
    Abstract: A vacuum powered pickup tool with mechanically moveable discrete nozzles allows for selective activation of the nozzles through the mechanical movement of the nozzles relative to a vacuum manifold. The movement of a nozzle from an inactive position where an inlet port of the nozzle is fluidly decoupled with the vacuum manifold to an active position where the inlet port is fluidly coupled with the vacuum manifold allows for independent activation of discrete nozzles of the pickup tool. Aspects also contemplate varying an associate manifold through movement of the manifolds accessible to the inlet port of the nozzle when in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Montoya, Raymundo Alatorre Mercado
  • Patent number: 11877534
    Abstract: A zero-turn mower including a removably attached front-end loader, where front-end loader includes two boom arms and a bucket, and an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism may include a center plate, a loader attachment mechanism, and a mower attachment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Rabih Zoorob
  • Patent number: 11869788
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a first processing unit and a second processing unit placed in upper and lower two stages. Each processing unit has: a plurality of processing tanks arranged in series; a partition wall defining a conveyance space extending along an arrangement direction outside the plurality of processing tanks; a conveyance mechanism placed in the conveyance space and being configured to convey a substrate between the processing tanks along the arrangement direction; and an air guide duct provided to extend along the arrangement direction in the conveyance space. The air guide duct is connected with a fan filter unit. Each of the processing tanks is connected with an exhaust duct. An opening is formed in each of parts facing the processing tank in the air guide duct. The conveyance spaces of the first and second processing units are separated into upper and lower segments by the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Maeda, Mitsuhiko Inaba, Haiyang Xu, Tetsuya Yashima
  • Patent number: 11845619
    Abstract: A clamp device for retaining a container in a container-handling apparatus, for example for retaining a drinks container at a neck portion or at a body portion, includes two clamp arms, which each have a retaining portion for retaining the container which is to be retained, and at least one prestressing element for prestressing the retaining portions towards one another, wherein for the purpose of adjusting the distance which is present between the retaining portions, the clamp arms are designed in a displaceable manner in relation to the prestressing of the at least one prestressing element. A container-handling apparatus having at least one clamp device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Marco Leidel, Christoph Brandl, Bruno Landler
  • Patent number: 11842917
    Abstract: A process kit ring adaptor includes one or more upper surfaces and one or more lower surfaces. The one or more upper surfaces are configured to support a process kit ring. The one or more lower surfaces are configured to interface with an end effector. The process kit ring adaptor supporting the process kit ring is configured to be transported on the end effector within a processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Volfovski, Andreas Schmid, Denis Martin Koosau, Nicholas Michael Kopec, Steven Babayan, Douglas R. McAllister, Helder Lee, Jeffrey Hudgens, Damon K. Cox
  • Patent number: 11834310
    Abstract: A carrying device (1) for the frontal removal of a roll body from a roll frame, comprising a main frame (2) and a receiving section (3) for the roll body. The receiving section (3) can be transferred from an introduction position (E) into a supporting position (S). The receiving section (3) has a profile which at least partially encloses the roll body in the supporting position (S), and the carrying device (1) can be pushed in below the roll body with the receiving section (3) in the introduction position (E), and the roll body is carried with the receiving section (3) in the supporting position (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Bühler AG
    Inventors: Pascal Reis, Hermann Buerke, Oliver Schneider, Cyril Brändli, Sebastian Wels
  • Patent number: 11823923
    Abstract: To provide a transfer chamber capable of replacing a chemical filter without affecting an internal atmosphere, and shortening or eliminating stop time of a transfer process of a wafer (W) associated with replacement of the chemical filter. The transfer chamber transfers the wafer (W) to or from a processing device (6) by using a transfer robot (2) provided thereinside, and includes a circulation path (CL1) formed inside of a transfer chamber (1) to circulate gas, a chemical filter unit (7) provided in the midstream of the circulation path (CL1), and a connecting and disconnecting means (8) which switches connection and disconnection of the chemical filter unit (7) to and from the circulation path (CL1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SINFONIA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kawai, Takashi Shigeta, Munekazu Komiya, Yasushi Taniyama
  • Patent number: 11821160
    Abstract: A front loader is attached to a car body and includes: a boom; a mainframe fixed to the car body; and a subframe that is detachably attached to the mainframe and supports the boom. The subframe includes: a first engaging portion that engages with the mainframe, and a second engaging portion that engages with the mainframe at a different position from the first engaging portion. Both the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are formed in an attachment member that is integrally formed and that constitutes at least a portion of the subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Torii
  • Patent number: 11823944
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame, a first SCARA arm having an end effector and being configured to extend and retract along a first axis, a second SCARA arm having an end effector and being configured to extend and retract along a second axis, a drive section including a splitting drive pulley rotatably mounted to rotate at an axis of rotation of the drive section that is shared by the first and second SCARA arms, the splitting drive pulley being coupled to at least two idler pulleys by respective segmented transmission loops of separate band segments so that the splitting drive pulley is a common pulley splitting one degree of freedom of the drive section between the at least two idler pulleys so as to commonly drive the at least two idler pulleys, wherein at least one band of each respective transmission loop share a common band interface level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brooks Automation US, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent W. Tsang, Charles W. Su
  • Patent number: 11817331
    Abstract: A shutter disc for use in a cluster tool assembly having a processing chamber and a transfer arm includes an inner disc and an outer disc configured to be disposed on the inner disc. The inner disc includes a plurality of locating features configured to mate with locating pins of a transfer arm of a cluster tool assembly and a plurality of centering features configured to mate with alignment elements of a substrate support disposed in the processing chamber of the cluster tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Yedla, Kirankumar Neelasandra Savandaiah, Thomas Brezoczky, Bhaskar Prasad, Nitin Bharadwaj Satyavolu
  • Patent number: 11793206
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for removing a rod-like element, like a smoking rod, from a loading zone of a hanging line, wherein the rod-like element is arranged in a loading position of said loading zone, in which the rod-like element can successively be loaded with sausage-shaped products, like sausages, each of which contain a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing provided with a suspension element, like a suspension loop, through which the sausage-shaped products can be suspended on the rod-like element in the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Poly-clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Kulhei
  • Patent number: 11791178
    Abstract: A compliant mechanical system for Mini/Micro chip mass transfer and packaging comprises a flexure-based continuous ejector pin mechanism including a drive support plate, a mounting base, first thorn die attach drive devices, second thorn die attach drive devices, first flexible hinges, second flexible hinges, and a pricking pin. The first thorn die attach drive devices and the second thorn die attach drive devices are mounted on the drive support plate. A drive end of the first thorn die attach drive device horizontally passes rightward through the first flexible hinge at a corresponding position; a drive end of the second thorn die attach drive device horizontally passes leftward through the first flexible hinge at a corresponding position; and the mounting base is hinged to the drive ends of the two thorn die attach drive devices through the second flexible hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGDONG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hui Tang, Zhishen Liao, Xin Chen, Zhihang Lin, Jian Gao, Qiang Liu, Xun Chen
  • Patent number: 11791180
    Abstract: A substrate transfer system includes an atmospheric substrate transfer module, a vacuum substrate transfer module, and a load lock module disposed on a side surface of the atmospheric substrate transfer module and disposed on an upper surface or a lower surface of the vacuum substrate transfer module. The load lock module includes a container having a first substrate transfer opening and a second substrate transfer opening, a first gate configured to open or close the first substrate transfer opening, a second gate configured to open or close the second substrate transfer opening, and a substrate actuator configured to vertically move a substrate through the second substrate transfer opening between a first position in the container and a second position in the vacuum substrate transfer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norihiko Amikura, Masahiro Dogome, Masatomo Kita
  • Patent number: 11732436
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include power machines and related structures of lift arms, implement carriers, follower links, and driver links which improve manufacturability, reduce component failures, and improve power machine design and functionality. In some embodiments, lift arm structures include cast lower lift arm portions. The cast lower lift arm portions include contoured upper ends which are sleeved onto contoured lower ends of upper lift arm portions to control stress points and to reduce stresses on welds. The follower link structures can include follower links which are configured to be positioned at least partially outside of the lift arm structure to improve rear visibility. The driver link structures can be configured to be laterally overlapping with innermost surfaces on the lift cylinder, but configured such that as the lift arm is raised the laterally overlapping portions are moved above the innermost surfaces of the lift cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventor: Branden Schiwal