Patents by Inventor Graham LeGrove

Graham LeGrove has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10825646
    Abstract: A positioning system can include a guide, a carrier element configured to engage and convey a workpiece, a motor having a mover element, a restraint coupled to the carrier element, and an actuator disposed between the restraint and the carrier element. The guide can be movable relative to a horizontal reference plane such that the carrier element coupled to the guide is inclined with respect to the horizontal reference plane. At least the mover element of the motor can be coupled to the carrier element and can be configured to move the carrier element along the guide. The restraint can be configured to selectively engage the guide to restrain movement of the carrier element in at least one direction along the guide when the guide is inclined out of the horizontal reference plane. The actuator can be configured to displace the carrier element relative to the restraint along the guide when the restraint is engaged with the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventor: Graham LeGrove
  • Publication number: 20200312605
    Abstract: A positioning system can include a guide, a carrier element configured to engage and convey a workpiece, a motor having a mover element, a restraint coupled to the carrier element, and an actuator disposed between the restraint and the carrier element. The guide can be movable relative to a horizontal reference plane such that the carrier element coupled to the guide is inclined with respect to the horizontal reference plane. At least the mover element of the motor can be coupled to the carrier element and can be configured to move the carrier element along the guide. The restraint can be configured to selectively engage the guide to restrain movement of the carrier element in at least one direction along the guide when the guide is inclined out of the horizontal reference plane. The actuator can be configured to displace the carrier element relative to the restraint along the guide when the restraint is engaged with the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventor: Graham LeGrove