Patents Examined by Scott Lowe
-
Patent number: 8496425Abstract: The end-effector includes an articulating frame mounted on an indexable boom. Tool modules mount on the end-effector and connect to a workpiece. Each tool module includes a flexible dress package including a cable carrier. A channel rail is supported by the end-effector frame and guides the cable carrier. A setup tool and associated process can reconfigure the positions of the tool modules and the frame and boom of the end-effector.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Yhu-Tin Lin, Andrew L. Bartos, Roland J. Menassa, Douglas R. Black, Joseph J. Ekl, Jr., Mark A. Cline
-
Patent number: 8491250Abstract: A palletizing robot includes a lifting frame, an end-effector, an extensible mechanical arm, and a balancing mechanism. The extensible mechanical arm is rotatably connected to the lifting frame. The balancing mechanism and the end-effector are located on opposite ends of the extensible mechanical arm. The balancing mechanism includes a threaded rod, a sliding member, a driving member, and a counterweight. The threaded rod is located on the extensible mechanical arm. The sliding member receives the threaded rod. The driving member is fixed on an end of the threaded rod. The counterweight is fixed on the sliding member. The driving member rotates the threaded rod such that the sliding member slides relative to the threaded rod.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Guo-Qing Zhang, Qi-Jun Wang
-
Patent number: 8491251Abstract: A gripping device includes a gripping-device body mounted to an end of a working arm; two gripping members pivotably supported by this body in an opening-closing direction; and a driver that drives the gripping members to open and close them. At least one of the gripping members includes one of various kinds of detachable sections each including a gripping segment; a holding section pivotably connected to the gripping-device body about a central pivot shaft and selectively holding the detachable section in a detachable manner; and a coupling member for detachable coupling. The detachable section has a restrained segment having a detachable-section through-hole extending parallel to the central pivot shaft. The holding section has an opening-closing-direction restraining segment that restrains the restrained segment in the opening-closing direction and a holding wall to which the restrained segment is fastened with the coupling member from a direction parallel to the detachable-section through-hole.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Muraoka, Takanori Yamasaki
-
Patent number: 8491248Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods disclosed for wafer processing. Specific embodiments include dual wafer handling systems that transfer wafers from storage cassettes to processing modules and back and aspects thereof. Stacked independent loadlocks that allow venting and pumping operations to work in parallel and may be optimized for particle reduction are provided. Also provided are annular designs for radial top down flow during loadlock vent and pumpdown.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Chris Gage, Shawn Hamilton, Sheldon Templeton, Keith Wood, Damon Genetti
-
Patent number: 8485772Abstract: An apparatus for arranging disks in a processing cassette includes a first conveyor configured to transfer a shipping cassette containing a plurality of disks to a first position and a comb assembly configured to displace one or more of the plurality of disks from the shipping cassette in the first position. A mandrel assembly is configured to remove the one or more displaced disks from the comb assembly and a turntable assembly is configured to rotate the comb assembly and the shipping cassette from the first position to a second position. The mandrel assembly is further configured to return the one or more displaced disks to the comb assembly and the comb assembly is further configured to replace the one or more displaced disks in the shipping cassette in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Rosulan Bin Ismail, Prakash Poobalan, Robert M. Tierney, Safri Husin
-
Patent number: 8480347Abstract: An order-picking system and method includes a pallet warehouse (12), preferably in terms of a high-bay warehouse, being used as a supply warehouse dedicated to a plurality of, preferably different, packing units (40) which are stored, preferably by one sort only, on pallets (14) in the pallet warehouse (12); a tray warehouse (24) which is used as a picking buffer for supplying connected order-picking stations with packing units (40), wherein trays (38) are stored in the tray warehouse which have been loaded with a pallet layer of packing units (40) before; a conveyor (22) which transports from the pallet warehouse to the tray warehouse trays (38) which are respectively loaded with a pallet layer of packing units, particularly across longer distances; and at least a rack-transport unit (36) for trays (38), the rack-transport unit allowing receipt of a plurality of trays being respectively loaded with a pallet layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Inventor: Gerhard Schäfer
-
Patent number: 8479607Abstract: A work transfer apparatus includes a work carrying mechanism, a driving source that drives the work carrying mechanism, a sealed box that accommodates the driving source in a hermetically sealed state, and a coolant circulation path provided in the sealed box for cooling the driving source. The sealed box includes a box body with an opening, and a partition lid for closing the opening. The partition lid includes an outer plate member and an inner plate member superposed on the outer plate member. The coolant circulation path is disposed at the interface between the outer plate member and the inner plate member.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: DAIHEN CorporationInventors: Kunio Fukuma, Hideki Matsuo
-
Patent number: 8476916Abstract: The invention relates to a plunger that is used to feed and withdraw an electronic component, in particular integrated circuits, to and/or from a contact device that is connected to a test device. The plunger head can be secured to a base body by a quick locking system. The quick locking system can be placed in a rear-engagement position when the plunger head is rotated in relation to the base body, a position in which the plunger head is axially coupled to the base body.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Multitest Elektronische Systeme GmbHInventor: Simon Murnauer
-
Patent number: 8469651Abstract: A conveyance device suitable for an automobile final assembly facility has an elevating table for supporting an object to be conveyed in a conveyance carriage which travels along a conveyance path. The elevating table has a table bearing base removably mounted on a table main body for supporting a bottom portion of the object to be conveyed. The table main body has a top surface flush with a flat work floor on the conveyance carriage when the table main body is at a lowering limit position. On the conveyance carriage, a strut bearing base formed of a pair of left and right strut members located on left and right sides of the object to be conveyed, when viewed in plan, and a bearing portion, provided for the strut member, for supporting left and right edges of the object to be conveyed is mounted removably in a state in which the pair of left and right strut members are positioned at both left and right sides of the elevating table.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigeyoshi Nishihara
-
Patent number: 8469652Abstract: A gripping device includes a spring member provided between a gripping member body and a shaft so that driving of a gripping driving cylinder causes a driving force to be transmitted from the gripping driving cylinder to the body while the shaft and the body are held in a predetermined positional relationship; so that the body is allowed to retreat with respect to the shaft by elastically deforming the spring member by an opposing force received from a processing object that contacts the body as a result of rotating the body; and so that contact pressure of the body with respect to the processing object is increased by an elastic force of the spring member as the body retreats.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Muraoka, Michiharu Mukai, Takanori Yamasaki
-
Patent number: 8465248Abstract: An apparatus and method to lift a carrier housing an object onto a secondary unit. The carrier is connected to the secondary unit, configured to rotate about an axis. A tether is provided with at least two branches on one end, and a single branch on a second end. The two branches are secured to the carrier in a spaced relationship, such that a pull of the single branch rotates the carrier about the axis and places the carrier on the base unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Terry M. Ciccaglione, Charles C. Gange, R. Kevin Qualters, Terese Sharon Spaulding, Todd D. Voltz
-
Patent number: 8459928Abstract: A conveyor robot (10) includes a main body (12), a first arm (18), and a second arm (16). The first arm (18) is designed to be reciprocable between a wafer cassette and a position above the main body (12). The first arm (18) is provided with a first hand (182) having a plurality of gripping portions designed to grip a wafer. The second arm (16) is designed to be reciprocable between a position above the main body (12) and a wafer stage. The second arm (16) is provided with a second hand (162) having a plurality of gripping portions designed to grip the wafer from a different angle than do the gripping portions of the first hand (182). The gripping portions of the first hand (182) and those of the second hand (162) are positioned at equal height.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Tazmo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takahiro Kobiki
-
Patent number: 8459927Abstract: A skid steer loader having an operator compartment attached to a frame. Lift assemblies are movably mounted to the frame and are movable between a retracted position and an extended position. As the lift assemblies are moved between the retracted position and the extended position, joining plates, first links and second links are positioned behind the operator compartment to provide a better field of vision for the operator.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: CNH America LLCInventors: Mark L. England, David Reyes, Sean Plante, Ed Wagner
-
Patent number: 8454293Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus having a station for loading and unloading substrates from the apparatus, includes an aperture closure for sealing a loading and unloading aperture of the station, a fluidic magazine door drive for removing a door of a substrate magazine and thus opening the substrate magazine and for operating the aperture closure to open the aperture, and sensor for mapping vertical locations of substrates mounted to the magazine door of the drive. The fluidic magazine door drive may include an encoder different from the sensor, the encoder being configured for determining the vertical location of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Ulysses Gilchrist, David R. Beaulieu, Peter F. Van der Meulen
-
Patent number: 8454294Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for cooling and transferring wafers from low pressure environment to high pressure environment are provided. An apparatus may include a cooling pedestal and a set of supports for holding the wafer above the cooling pedestal. The average gap between the wafer and the cooling pedestal may be no greater than about 0.010 inches. Venting gases may be used to increase the pressure inside the apparatus during the transfer. In certain embodiment, venting gases comprise nitrogen.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Gage, Charles E. Pomeroy, David Cohen, Nagarajan Kalyanasundaram
-
Patent number: 8449241Abstract: A hydraulically-operated grapple attachment for the scoop bucket of a skid steer loader comprises a mounting bar running the length dimension of the bucket along a top rear edge thereof and pivotally attached to the mounting bar by tubular steel arms is a crossbar member having perpendicularly oriented tines projecting downward therefrom where at least one of the tines is hydraulically displaceable in a direction forward from the crossbar. Actuation of the hydraulically-movable tine serves to prevent the skid steer loader from becoming mired.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Inventor: Ronald M. Fritsch
-
Patent number: 8444368Abstract: This invention provides a substrate transport apparatus (100) which transports a substrate (W) placed on a hand portion (10) to a processing apparatus or a predetermined storage unit. The substrate transport apparatus (100) includes a moving means (20) for supporting the proximal side (10b) of the hand portion (10) serving as one end of the hand portion (10), and reciprocally moving the hand portion (10) in the direction of its extension, a tilt detection means (30) for detecting the tilt of a distal end (10a) of the hand portion (10) with respect to the horizontal direction, which accompanies flexure of the hand portion (10) upon placing the substrate (W) on the hand portion (10), and a tilt correction means (40) for generating a pitching motion of the hand portion (10) as a whole so as to cancel the tilt of the distal end (10a) of the hand portion (10).Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Hirata CorporationInventor: Kouji Irie
-
Patent number: 8444361Abstract: A portable log skidder designed for towing with various vehicles comprising a self-contained battery-operated winch is herein disclosed. The skidder comprises a steel frame providing an “L”-shaped configuration. An inverted “U”-shaped structure at a rear location provides an opening and an upper pulley over the open frame. To utilize the log skidder, it is positioned in proximity to a large log. A steel cable is extended from the winch and strapped around one end of the log. Next, the winch is used to raise one (1) end of the log slightly off the ground. The log skidder, along with the log, is then pulled using a vehicle thereto a location where the log can be harvested for firewood, lumber, or other purposes. The log is centered over two (2) pneumatic rubber tires on the frame which carry the weight of the log skidder and the log. The winch is controlled by a tethered remote control unit at a safe distance.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Inventor: Weldon Hershey
-
Patent number: 8442678Abstract: A robotic device includes a first link portion, a second link portion that moves relative to the first link portion, a first contact load detecting portion that detects a contact load in a contact area of the first link portion, a second contact load detecting portion that detects a contact load in a contact area of the second link portion, and a first link portion control target setting portion that sets a control target for the first link portion. The first link portion control target setting portion sets the control target for the first link portion such that the difference between the detection value of the contact load of the first contact load detecting portion and the detection value of the contact load of the second contact load detecting portion decreases.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Waseda UniversityInventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Shigeki Sugano, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Taisuke Sugaiwa, Hiroyasu Iwata
-
Patent number: 8439623Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for handling materials, including materials used in semiconductor manufacturing systems. The methods and systems include linear semiconductor processing facilities for vacuum-based semiconductor processing and handling, as well as linkable or extensible semiconductor processing facilities that can be flexibly configured to meet a variety of constraints.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventor: Peter van der Meulen