Patents Examined by Stephen Kitt
  • Patent number: 10105725
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a viscous fluid onto a surface. An applicator associated with an extension member may be positioned over the surface using a robotic operator. The extension member may be configured to maintain a selected distance between the applicator and a fluid source for the viscous fluid. The viscous fluid may be dispensed from the fluid source to the applicator. The viscous fluid may be applied onto the surface using the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Raul Tomuta, Angelica Davancens, Richard Philip Topf, Branko Sarh
  • Patent number: 10106337
    Abstract: An overhead conveyor system for transporting articles, especially for transporting vehicle bodies, in a treatment line comprises at least one transport carriage which has a fastening device to which at least one article can be fastened. The transport carriage can be displaced along the track by at least one drive means. The transport carriage is designed in such a manner that the fastening device can be transported at least along one section of the track, in a laterally offset manner with respect to the track. The invention further relates to a dip coating line comprising at least one dip-coating tank which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which tank articles to be treated, especially vehicle bodies, are dipped. A conveying system can displace the articles to be treated towards the dip-coating tank, into the inner edge of the dip-coating tank, out of the dip-coating tank and away therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: EISENMANN SE
    Inventor: Joerg Robbin
  • Patent number: 10105727
    Abstract: An arrangement for automated painting of an object includes a paint robot, a cover and a cover blocking member. The paint robot defines an axis joint about which a first portion rotates relative to a second portion. The cover covers at least a portion of the paint robot. The cover blocking member is in the form of a band carried by the paint robot and is positioned between the paint robot and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TD INDUSTRIAL COVERINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Mark D'Andreta
  • Patent number: 10099250
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for applying and curing a light-curable material on a work surface. The apparatus includes a nozzle from which the light-curable material is applied to the work surface to form a layer of light-curable material on the work surface. The layer of light-curable material has a leading edge and a trailing edge defined according to a direction of movement of the nozzle relative to the work surface. The apparatus also includes a light source fixed relative to the nozzle. The light source is operable to direct a light beam to the trailing edge of the layer of light-curable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Carissa A. Pajel, Benjamin P. Hargrave, Darrin M. Hansen, Dion P. Coleman, Michael D. Jones
  • Patent number: 10081029
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a paint mist separating device, and a paint booth having a paint mist separating device. The paint mist separating device can include a tapered tube, and a collecting funnel with a funnel inlet and a funnel neck, into which the larger end of the tapered tube projects, wherein the funnel neck is provided for connection to a collecting tank for paint. The paint mist separating device can include a collecting hood, which is arranged opposite the funnel inlet and which has a paint mist inlet opening, into which a smaller end of the tapered tube opens, wherein an outlet gap is provided between the inlet opening of the collecting funnel and the collecting hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hermann, Wernfried Heinrich, Marcus Schnaubelt, Frederik Vandepitte
  • Patent number: 10060062
    Abstract: An apparatus for the application of atomized fluid to a web material having a first surface and a second surface opposed thereto is disclosed. The apparatus is provided with a fluid source disposed adjacent to the first surface of the web material and a receipt plenum disposed adjacent to the second surface of the web material. The receipt plenum provides a source of negative pressure to the second surface of the web material. A fluid disposed from the fluid source contacts the first surface of the web material and is caused to traverse therethrough by the source of negative pressure. A portion of the fluid contacting the first surface of the web material is contained by the receipt plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Valle, Katie Kristine Glass, Hasan Eroglu, David Warren Loebker, Kurt David Alexander, André Mellin, Kevin Benson McNeil, David William Cabell, John Gerhard Michael, Stanford Royce Jackson, Thorsten Knobloch
  • Patent number: 10046356
    Abstract: This coating device according to the present invention comprises a slit nozzle (30); a liquid supply path (10) for a coating liquid; a pneumatic transportation device (20) for transporting the coating liquid pneumatically; a liquid supply valve (50) for opening/shutting the liquid supply path (10); a pump (40) configured so as to be capable of suctioning the coating liquid inside the slit nozzle (30); a residual-pressure removal means (80) for removing the residual pressure inside the slit nozzle (30); and a control section (70) for controlling the operation of the liquid supply valve (50), the pump (40), and the residual-pressure removal means (80); wherein the coating liquid remaining inside the slit nozzle (30) is suctioned at the end of coating after pumping of the coating liquid is stopped and the residual pressure inside the slit nozzle (30) is removed. With this configuration the coating device improves responsive at the end of the coating without a complicated control procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TAZMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ikagawa, Naoki Tsuo
  • Patent number: 10040091
    Abstract: A grip member and a method of making such a grip member including at least a polymerized region with two or more polymers. The first and second polymers cooperate to each form a portion of the top surface of the region. The region may be combined with a substrate to form a sheet. The sheet may be formed into a grip interface having any of a number of shapes including a panel shape. In the case of a panel shaped grip interface, the panel can then be attached to an underlisting sleeve to form the grip. Some versions of such a grip reduce impact shock and provide a feeling of tackiness in the manner of a spirally wrapped polyurethane-felt grip while allowing the use of multiple colors being polymerized together. The grip may be easily installed onto a golf club shaft and may further accommodate the use of polymers including various different characteristics including level of tackiness or durometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Ben Huang
  • Patent number: 10035165
    Abstract: A spray edger device, which is suitable for use with a material application apparatus, said spray edger device includes a planar blade member, a substantially V-shaped frame member for supporting the planar blade member, and a collar member configured for moveably connecting the planar blade member to a barrel portion of a material application apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Fabian Santiago
  • Patent number: 10016774
    Abstract: The present invention relates to painting plant, the individual apparatus of which, which are required for different process steps, are accommodated in individual detachable modules, thus considerably simplifying the installation of the painting plant as well as the maintenance and servicing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: OERLIKON SURFACE SOLUTIONS AG, PFÄFFIKON
    Inventor: Carlos Ribeiro
  • Patent number: 10011100
    Abstract: A slit nozzle includes: a first head, a second head facing the first head; and a plurality of cores located between the first head and the second head, wherein the plurality of cores includes: a first core and a third core for coating a coating solution; and a second core located between the first core and the third core so that coating of the coating solution via the first core and the third core is achieved at different instants of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Ho Kwack, Sung-Sang Ahn, Young-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10000331
    Abstract: A bottle change apparatus includes a change mechanism that changes a bottle, and the bottle includes a bottle cap. The bottle cap includes: a treatment solution straw part that forms a treatment solution flow passage for supplying a treatment solution in the bottle to an outside of the bottle and extends to an inside of the bottle; and a treatment solution connecting part that is provided at an end portion outside the bottle of the treatment solution straw part. The change mechanism includes: a connection mechanism part including a treatment solution pipe which is connected to the treatment solution connecting part of the bottle and through which the treatment solution supplied from the bottle flows; and a bottle mounting part that transfers the bottle to a connection position where the treatment solution connecting part and the treatment solution pipe are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Arnaud Alain Jean Dauendorffer, Shinobu Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9953866
    Abstract: A method is provided which includes dispensing and removing different deposition solutions during an electroless deposition process to form different sub-films of a composite layer. Another method includes forming a film by an electroless deposition process and subsequently annealing the microelectronic topography to induce diffusion of an element within the film. Yet another method includes reiterating different mechanisms of deposition growth, namely interfacial electroless reduction and chemical adsorption, from a single deposition solution to form different sub-films of a composite layer. A microelectronic topography resulting from one or more of the methods includes a film formed in contact with a structure having a bulk concentration of a first element. The film has periodic successions of regions each comprising a region with a concentration of a second element greater than a set amount and a region with a concentration of the second element less than the set amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Igor C. Ivanov
  • Patent number: 9914150
    Abstract: The invention relates to a graphical application system to apply a desired pattern by multiple tiles onto a target surface. The system comprises a graphical application device comprising a base structure with a trackable optical feature, at least one nozzle for expelling paint, a driving unit for positioning the nozzle and a local camera for a local referencing of the nozzle. A controller controls the driving unit and the expelling of the nozzle to achieve an application of the desired pattern on the target surface. The system also comprises an external referencing device located remote from the graphical application device, for a global referencing of the application device according to the trackable optical feature. The desired pattern is applied with a primary alignment of the application range by the global referencing and with a fine-alignment of the actual tile to a previously applied tile according to the local referencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Bo Pettersson, Klaus Schneider, Benedikt Zebhauser, Knut Siercks
  • Patent number: 9908138
    Abstract: Disclosed are stent holding devices having a support mandrel and one or more stent retaining fixtures disposed on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may include a character identifier to facilitate tracking a stent mounted on the holding device. The retaining fixture may include a conical protrusion and a conical recess to allow any number of retaining fixtures to engage each other and be stacked on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may include a tubular member having a spiral cut that enables the diameter of the tubular member to be adjusted to allow for a frictional fit on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may have a Z-shaped or T-shaped structure configured to retain a stent. The stent retaining fixture may also have a filament for retaining a stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Isaac Rodriguez-Mejia Plans, Javier Palomar Moreno, Tomás Madden, David O'Neill, Victoria May Gong
  • Patent number: 9884338
    Abstract: A modular tire spraying system includes a downdraft spray booth for receiving a tire, a fluid delivery system disposed in the spray booth, a robot for transporting the tire to the spray booth, and a platform on which each of the spray booth, the fluid delivery system, and the robot is disposed. The fluid delivery system includes at least one spray gun for delivering a coating to the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PIONEER INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Todd E. Hendricks, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9868136
    Abstract: A device for producing a coated steel sheet includes: a blowing-off unit which sprays a gas onto and remove an excessive coating that accumulates along a side edge of a steel sheet that threads along one direction; and a coating-collection unit which collects the excessive coating removed by the blowing-off unit. The blowing-off unit includes a spray nozzle and a gas supply member. The coating-collection unit includes a duct and a coating container. In a case where the duct is seen in a plan view, an outlet thereof is disposed to fit in and overlap an inside of an opening of the coating container, and in a case where the duct is seen in a side view, a gap is provided between the outlet and the opening of the coating container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhide Soya, Masayoshi Nagatomi, Fumio Shibao, Hiroyasu Furukawa
  • Patent number: 9869734
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes depositing a first layer comprising a base material onto a surface to form a substrate and depositing a second layer onto the first layer. The second layer may enable bonding between a conductor material and the substrate. The method also includes depositing a third layer onto the second layer using a consolidation process. The consolidation process uses the conductor material to form at least a portion of a gradient coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jean-Baptiste Mathieu, Saban Kurucay, Thomas Kwok-Fah Foo, Yanzhe Yang
  • Patent number: 9865501
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing metal oxide surfaces to modified metal surfaces are disclosed. By exposing a metal oxide surface to a remote plasma, the metal oxide surface on a substrate can be reduced to pure metal and the metal reflowed. A remote plasma apparatus can treat the metal oxide surface as well as cool, load/unload, and move the substrate within a single standalone apparatus. The remote plasma apparatus includes a processing chamber and a controller configured to provide a substrate having a metal seed layer in a processing chamber, form a remote plasma of a reducing gas species where the remote plasma includes radicals, ions, and/or ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the reducing gas species, and expose a metal seed layer of the substrate to the remote plasma to reduce oxide of the metal seed layer to metal and to reflow the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Tighe A. Spurlin, George Andrew Antonelli, Natalia Doubina, James E. Duncan, Jonathan D. Reid, David Porter
  • Patent number: 9855579
    Abstract: A spin dispenser module and methods for using the same is disclosed. The spin dispenser module includes a cup having a basin with sidewalls and an exhaust, a rotatable platform situated inside the cup adapted for holding and rotating a substrate, a liquid dispenser disposed over the rotatable platform for dispensing a liquid coating material on top of the substrate, one or more ejector inlets disposed over the rotatable platform, the one or more ejectors connected to a negative pressure source, and a motor coupled to the rotatable platform to rate the rotatable platform at different rotational speeds. The one or more ejector inlets may be translatable and/or rotatable with optionally adjustable suction pressure. The ejector inlets operate after a liquid coating material is dispensed to avoid deposition of suspended organic compounds after a coating is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ching-Hai Yang, Yao-Hwan Kao, Shang-Sheng Li, Kuo-Pin Chen, Hsiang-Kai Tseng, Chuan-Wei Chen