Patents Examined by Saul Rodriguez
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Patent number: 11375649Abstract: A component feeding device includes a tape lead-in mechanism that leads a component storage tape into a tape traveling path. A pair of tape holding portions are coupled to an operating lever such that the pair of tape holding portions are allowed to shift in posture between a holding posture in which the pair of tape holding portions are able to hold the component storage tape and a hold releasing posture in which the pair of tape holding portions release their hold on the component storage tape. As a result of turning together with the turned operating lever, the pair of tape holding portions shift in position between a send-off enabling position and a send-off disabling position at which the component storage tape is released from a state of being sent off. At the send-off disabling position, the pair of tape holding portions takes the hold releasing posture.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryouta Masuda, Kazuyoshi Oyama, Yusetsu Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11373891Abstract: Equipment front end module (EFEM) includes front located return ducts. The EFEM may include a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, the front wall including a plurality of load ports, and the rear wall configured to couple to a load lock apparatus. An EFEM chamber is formed between the front wall, the rear wall, and the two side walls. An upper plenum is positioned at a top of the EFEM and includes an opening into the EFEM chamber. Return ducts provide a return gas flow path enabling recirculation of gas from the EFEM chamber to the upper plenum. At least some of the plurality of return ducts are located between the load ports. Electronic device manufacturing assemblies and methods of operating equipment front end modules are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Paul B. Reuter, Robin C. Armstrong, John C. Menk, Nir Merry
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Patent number: 11365103Abstract: A modular fork assembly for a pallet truck includes a discrete elongate body, a discrete load wheel module, and a discrete fork tip that may be detachably connected by the same or different types of interlocking mechanisms that are adapted to inhibit sheer forces. The load wheel module includes a frame and a load wheel assembly that includes a load wheel that is operatively connected to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.Inventor: Robert Dunigan
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Patent number: 11364835Abstract: An apparatus is mountable on a truck or trailer bed for lifting industrial or agricultural spools for transport. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically pivotable lifting members, each one of the pair of lifting members having a distal end. A pair of lifting pins are mounted to a distal end of a corresponding lifting member. A drive system is operably connected to the pair of vertically pivotable lifting members whereby the pair of lifting pins engage a hole of a spool and the spool is lifted with the vertically pivotable lifting members by a drive system.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Inventor: Peter E Dyck
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Patent number: 11365048Abstract: A trash collection assembly may include a dumpster housing which may house therein a dumpster to provide a more desirable aesthetic appeal. A garbage truck may be configured to lift the dumpster out of the dumpster housing without the need for the garbage truck driver to get out of the truck. A cover of the dumpster may open and close automatically respectively during the removal of the dumpster from the housing and return of the dumpster to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Red Letter Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Anthony F. Mullet, Bryan S. Mullet, Joshua A. Mullet, James S. Arnold
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Patent number: 11361980Abstract: A device and method for alignment of a first contact surface of a first substrate with a second contact surface of a second substrate which can be held on a second platform includes first X-Y positions of first alignment keys located along the first contact surface, and second X-Y positions of second alignment keys which correspond to the first alignment keys and which are located along the second contact surface. The first contact surface can be aligned based on the first X-Y positions in the first alignment position and the second contact surface can be aligned based on the second X-Y positions in the second alignment position.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: EV GROUP E. THALLNER GMBHInventor: Daniel Figura
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Patent number: 11358812Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of intelligent household appliances, and more particularly, to a method for controlling an article delivery device, the method including: detecting whether an article delivery device is in a wireless charging area, and charging the article delivery device according to a battery power of the article delivery device, controlling the article delivery device to be loaded according to a received user instruction and a target position after the battery power of the article delivery device reaches a set threshold value, and controlling the article delivery device to move to the target position after the article delivery device is loaded.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignees: QINGDAO HAIGAO DESIGN & MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.Inventors: Jian Wu, Haibo Liu, Shu Zhou, Zhiqun Feng, Zhaojun Fei
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Patent number: 11358793Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a plurality of conveyor segments that define a movement path that is elongate along a longitudinal direction from a first end of the storage to a second end of the module. The module has a plurality of container carriers that are supported by the conveyor segments. Each container carrier supports at least one inventory storage container that supports at least one inventory item therein. The storage module can transfer the container carriers around the movement path until a desired one of the container carriers is presented at one of the first and second module ends. In another embodiment, a plurality of instances of the storage module are arranged in a vertical stack of independently controllable storage modules.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Benjamin Douglas Garcia, William Scott Kalm, Vahideh Kamranzadeh, Dinesh Mahadevan, Seshachalamgupta Motamarri, Tyson Wittrock
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Patent number: 11358510Abstract: A package lift assembly for a delivery vehicle includes a plurality of rods that define at least one shelf. The package lift assembly further includes upper and lower rails. An alteration assembly is operably coupled to the upper and lower rails. Vertical guides are operably coupled to the alteration assembly. A platform is operably coupled to the vertical guides and include a central receiving member. At least a portion of the plurality of rods are selectively disposed within the central receiving member. A motor assembly is operably coupled to the central receiving member and the vertical guides. The motor assembly and the alteration assembly cooperate to translate the platform along the vertical guides and translate the central receiving member between a retrieval position and a holding position.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Kurt Michael Lundeen, Yifan Chen, John Randolf Vincent
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Patent number: 11352220Abstract: A substrate processing system including at least two vertically stacked transport chambers, each of the vertically stacked transport chambers including a plurality of openings arranged to form vertical stacks of openings configured for coupling to vertically stacked process modules, at least one of the vertically stacked transport chambers includes at least one transport chamber module arranged for coupling to another transport chamber module to form a linear transport chamber and another of the at least two stacked transport chambers including at least one transport chamber module arranged for coupling to another transport chamber module to form another linear transport chamber, and a transport robot disposed in each of the transport chamber modules, where a joint of the transport robot is locationally fixed along a linear path formed by the respective linear transport chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Brooks Automation US, LLCInventor: Robert T. Caveney
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Patent number: 11355384Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a substrate loading unit which loads a plurality of substrates, a substrate transfer unit which transfers N (where N is natural number) substrates at the same time from the substrate loading unit, and a substrate processing unit including a plurality of process chambers which receives the N substrates at the same time from the substrate transfer unit and processes the received substrates where each of the process chambers includes a stage on which the N substrates are disposed and an insulation layer disposed between the N substrates.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Dongseok Shin, Bongsub Song
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Patent number: 11345382Abstract: A pallet truck according to the present application includes a front frame, a rear frame, a lifting component, two fork bodies, a guide bar, a transmission device, and a load-bearing wheel assembly. The distance between the fork bodies can be adjusted by using the side-shifting driving component, thereby providing different fork distances and significantly improving the adaptability. During the adjusting process, the transmission device can switch the load-bearing wheel assembly from the longitudinal rolling state to the lateral rolling state, thereby avoiding wear of the wheels, which is beneficial to improving the overall life of the device and reducing the maintenance cost. In addition, the transmission device is pushed out as the rear frame is lifted, and thus the operation process is simple and reliable.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: HANGCHA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventors: Zhongnan Xia, Hao Kuang, Pengfei Pan, Xing Luo, Le Shang, Jianchen Sun, Jingxuan Ruan
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Patent number: 11345541Abstract: A control unit that controls a transport apparatus executes selection control to select one accommodation portion as a selected accommodation portion, movement control to control the transport apparatus so as to move a transport support portion to a corresponding position, determination control to determine whether or not a detection target portion is detected by a detecting portion, transfer control to control the transport apparatus so as to transfer an article from the transport support portion to an accommodation support member, and update setting control to set the selected accommodation portion and related accommodation portions as prohibited accommodation portions if it is determined, in the determination control, that the detection target portion is not detected, and after the update setting control, the control unit again executes the selection control to newly select a selected accommodation portion, and executes the movement control so as to move the transport support portion to a corresponding posType: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Tsuyoshi Yoshizaki, Jun Tanaka, Katsumichi Sameshima
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Patent number: 11338995Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a body coupled to the chassis, and a lift assembly coupled to at least one of the chassis or the body. The lift assembly includes a first lift arm and a second lift arm. The first lift arm includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion interfacing with the first arm portion, a first actuator positioned to facilitate repositioning the second arm portion relative to the first arm portion, and a second actuator positioned to pivot the first arm portion. The second lift arm includes a third arm portion, a fourth arm portion interfacing with the third arm portion, a third actuator positioned to facilitate repositioning the fourth arm portion relative to the third arm portion, and a fourth actuator positioned to pivot the second arm portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Oshkosh CorporationInventors: Joshua D. Rocholl, Matt Deinema, Jarud H. Hoefker, Justin Wilmes
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Patent number: 11339577Abstract: A stocker includes a transporter that travels through a traveling space within a stocker and transports an article, a pair of rails that flank the traveling space extend in parallel or substantially in parallel in a horizontal direction, platforms movable along the pair of rails, and a housing provided on a stocker outer side of a door that separates an inside and an outside of the stocker, and that houses the platforms. The pair of rails extend from the inside of the stocker to the housing through an opening directly under the door. At least one of the platforms includes a fence in an upright standing manner and an upper end of the fence is higher than an upper end of the opening. The platform that includes the fence extends across the inside of the stocker and the outside of the stocker via the opening while the fence is arranged on a stocker inner side.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventor: Yu Kusama
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Patent number: 11331712Abstract: A transfer mechanism includes a rail, first and second tables on the rail, first and second arms each having a base pivotably supported by the first and second tables, respectively, and first and second drive mechanisms that move the first and second tables along the rail, respectively. The first and second arms are pivotaly connected to each other at a position between a tip side and a base side. Tip side portions of the first and second arms than a connected portion of the first and second arms serve as fingers for holding a workpiece. The first and second drive mechanisms independently move the first and second tables, respectively. A relative movement of the first and second tables causes the first and second arms to operate a clamp/unclamp operation. A coordinated movement of the first and second tables causes the first and second arms to perform an advance/return operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: AIDA ENGINEERING, LTD.Inventor: Takao Ito
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Patent number: 11332327Abstract: A cargo unloading system is described. It provides more efficient intermodal transportation by transferring cargo such as granulates, brans, powders or solids placed inside a shipping container through tubes with internal threads to the next transport mode automatically and in a very short period of time. The system is made up of the cargo container, a mechanical unloading system with motors actuated to move screws and an independent hydraulic/electric unit. The system can be mounted on a road-vehicle, ship, aircraft or stationary base, and it may also be self-propelled.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Inventors: Marcio Howe, Mauricio Howe, Armin Howe
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Patent number: 11330765Abstract: A grain spreader wherein grain received in the hopper is directed to spreader arms by a spreader cone. The spreader cone has a convergent cone and a divergent cone. The spreader cone has a center opening that allows a first portion of the grain collecting in the convergent cone to pass through and fall through the underside of the divergent cone. The grain spreader further includes support springs that lift the spreader cone upwards into the hopper when the spreader cone is lightly loaded. A center flow choke is configured to throttle the flow of grain through the center opening to partially close the center opening in low grain flow conditions, wherein the center flow choke is mounted to the hopper body such that up and down movement of the spreader cone moves the center opening into or out of engagement with the center flow choke.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Inventors: Shaun J. Kibbe, Austin D. Wasinger, James H. Renyer
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Patent number: 11332908Abstract: A coupler for coupling an attachment to an excavator or other machine comprises a powered actuator for actuating a locking member into and out of said locking state, a first power coupling unit, and a second actuator for moving the power coupling unit into and out of an engaging position in which it is engagable with a corresponding second power coupling unit of the attachment. The coupler is configured to cause the first power coupling unit to move into the engaging position after said latching member adopts the locking state and, when decoupling the attachment from the coupler, to cause said latching member to remain in its locking state until after the first power coupling unit is moved out of its engaging position.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: HILTEC DESIGNS LTDInventors: Ian Hill, Terence Haughian
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Patent number: 11312504Abstract: A pivoting cradle apparatus for capturing an aircraft wheel on an aircraft tug includes a cradle sized for holding the wheel, mounted on at least one pivot block and configured to pivot between a wheel loading position and a wheel retaining position. A latch mechanism is disposed under the cradle, biased to swing into an upright position wherein it seats in a notch on the cradle, locking the cradle in the wheel retaining position. A latch release mechanism is configured to urge the latch out of the upright position, and when it does so, the latch slides along the underside of the cradle as the cradle pivots down. into the wheel loading position.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Inventors: Anthony Chan, Tracy Haeggstrom