Patents by Inventor Kenji Ago

Kenji Ago 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: 8571704
    Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus that reduces the quantity of sensors used to detect the position of a substrate so as to simplify the structure and lower costs. The substrate transfer apparatus transfers a substrate (S) between a core chamber (11) and a peripheral chamber (12 or 13). A transfer robot (15) is arranged in the core chamber. The transfer robot includes a hand (17) for carrying the substrate and is capable of extending/drawing and pivoting the hand. A sensor (19) detects an edge surface of the substrate. The sensor is arranged at a position that the edge surface of the substrate passes by when the hand is extended/drawn between the core chamber and the peripheral chamber and that the edge surface of the substrate passes by when the hand is pivoted in the core chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: ULVAC, Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Kawaguchi, Kenji Ago, Toshio Koike
  • Patent number: 8382421
    Abstract: A compact transport apparatus that does not cause pollution to its environment is provided. In a transport apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, an installation area of the apparatus is small because first and second rotary shafts are arranged concentrically, and a dead center escaping mechanism has a simple structure with a small thickness. Since a connecting portion of a hand portion can be made thin, an opening of a gate valve through which the hand portion is inserted can be reduced. As a result, it becomes difficult for dust inside a transport chamber to enter a processing chamber. A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a spaced dual shaft-type transport apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Musha, Hirofumi Minami, Kenji Ago, Takashi Asaishi, Toshio Koike
  • Publication number: 20100178136
    Abstract: Substrates are delivered in a short time among various processing chambers having various mounting positions. When first to fourth drive shafts rotate in a state such that an A-side rotary member and a B-side rotary member are stationary, first to fourth mounting portions linearly move on extension lines on respective ones of the sides thereof. When the first drive shaft and the A-side rotary member, the second drive shaft and the B-side rotary member, the third drive shaft and the A-side rotary member, and the fourth drive shaft and the B-side rotary member rotate by the same angle in the same direction, the first to fourth mounting portions are rotationally moved. When the linear motion is combined with the rotational motion, the first to fourth mounting portions can be moved to desired positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji AGO
  • Publication number: 20100121487
    Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus that reduces the quantity of sensors used to detect the position of a substrate so as to simplify the structure and lower costs. The substrate transfer apparatus transfers a substrate (S) between a core chamber (11) and a peripheral chamber (12 or 13). A transfer robot (15) is arranged in the core chamber. The transfer robot includes a hand (17) for carrying the substrate and is capable of extending/drawing and pivoting the hand. A sensor (19) detects an edge surface of the substrate. The sensor is arranged at a position that the edge surface of the substrate passes by when the hand is extended/drawn between the core chamber and the peripheral chamber and that the edge surface of the substrate passes by when the hand is pivoted in the core chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi Kawaguchi, Kenji Ago, Toshio Koike
  • Publication number: 20100040447
    Abstract: A compact transport apparatus that does not cause pollution to its environment is provided. In a transport apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, an installation area of the apparatus is small because first and second rotary shafts are arranged concentrically, and a dead center escaping mechanism has a simple structure with a small thickness. Since a connecting portion of a hand portion can be made thin, an opening of a gate valve through which the hand portion is inserted can be reduced. As a result, it becomes difficult for dust inside a transport chamber to enter a processing chamber. A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a spaced dual shaft-type transport apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: ULVAC, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro MUSHA, Hirofumi Minami, Kenji Ago, Takashi Asaishi, Toshio Koike
  • Patent number: 7645112
    Abstract: A transport apparatus which can properly transmit a rotary driving force of a rotating motor to a transport arm and can correctly detect an angle of rotation of a rotary driving shaft, thereby transporting an object to be transported in a transport unit to a correct position. The transport apparatus includes: a housing having an airtight structure; first to third driving shafts that are provided in the housing to be independently rotatable around a predetermined coaxial rotary shaft; permanent magnets arranged at predetermined positions of the first to third driving shafts, respectively; and electromagnetic coils provided in the housing to correspond to the respective permanent magnets. Driving currents are supplied to the electromagnetic coils based on predetermined information, so as to move the first to third driving shafts. The object to be transported is transported by first and second linkages fixed to the first to third driving shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ulvac Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Minami, Kenji Ago, Takafumi Kawaguchi, Toshio Koike, Junpei Yuyama
  • Patent number: 7572093
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes first and second linkages. The first linkage includes first and third arms that can be rotated around a coaxial rotary shaft of first through third driving shafts coaxially arranged, and transports a first carrier. The second linkage includes a second arm and the third arm that can be rotated around the coaxial rotary shaft of the first through third driving shafts, and transports a second carrier. The first and second linkages are arranged to allow the first and second carriers to move beyond the coaxial rotary shaft of the first through third driving shafts without interfering with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: ULVAC Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Minami, Kenji Ago, Takafumi Kawaguchi, Toshio Koike, Junpei Yuyama
  • Publication number: 20050286993
    Abstract: A transport apparatus which can properly transmit a rotary driving force of a rotating motor to a transport arm and can correctly detect an angle of rotation of a rotary driving shaft, thereby transporting an object to be transported in a transport unit to a correct position. The transport apparatus includes: a housing having an airtight structure; first to third driving shafts that are provided in the housing to be independently rotatable around a predetermined coaxial rotary shaft; permanent magnets arranged at predetermined positions of the first to third driving shafts, respectively; and electromagnetic coils provided in the housing to correspond to the respective permanent magnets. Driving currents are supplied to the electromagnetic coils based on predetermined information, so as to move the first to third driving shafts. The object to be transported is transported by first and second linkages fixed to the first to third driving shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Minami, Kenji Ago, Takafumi Kawaguchi, Toshio Koike, Junpei Yuyama
  • Publication number: 20050232744
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes first and second linkages. The first linkage includes first and third arms that can be rotated around a coaxial rotary shaft of first through third driving shafts coaxially arranged, and transports a first carrier. The second linkage includes a second arm and the third arm that can be rotated around the coaxial rotary shaft of the first through third driving shafts, and transports a second carrier. The first and second linkages are arranged to allow the first and second carriers to move beyond the coaxial rotary shaft of the first through third driving shafts without interfering with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Minami, Kenji Ago, Takafumi Kawaguchi, Toshio Koike, Junpei Yuyama
  • Patent number: 5798011
    Abstract: A method of making a combination concrete panel wall, concrete window frame, and concrete sash glazing frame. The sill, lintel, and jambs of the window frame are fiber-reinforced concrete extrusions which are cut to length and cemented together. The hardened frame is placed in a concrete panel molding frame to locate and define a window opening. The concrete panel wall grout is then poured and dovetail-type mortise and tenon joints are precast in the exterior faces of the window frame which abut the poured concrete wall panel plastic grout, to permanently mold and interlock the window frame to the panel wall. The sash members are fitted about a window pane which is located in interior grooves in the sash members and then glazed. Sealing means interconnect the sash to the window frame to provide a condensation-resistant, water-tight, air-tight, heat and fire-resistant concrete wall closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignees: Kajima Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha F R C
    Inventors: Tatsuo Suenaga, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Shin Terauchi, Takeo Kikuchi, Shinnosuke Aiba, Mikio Kobayashi, Yutaka Katsuta, Kenji Ago, Katsumi Kosuge, Yasuyuki Matsubara, Masato Tanaami, Shunichi Sugishita, Hideki Ikeda, Toshio Furuya, Shigeyuki Akihama, Takahiro Arai
  • Patent number: 5591286
    Abstract: A method of making a combination concrete panel wall, concrete window frame, and concrete sash glazing frame. The sill, lintel, and jambs of the window frame are fiber-reinforced concrete extrusions. The hardened frame is placed in a concrete panel molding frame to locate and define a window opening. The concrete panel wall grout is then poured and dovetail-type mortise and tenon joints are precast in the exterior faces of the window frame which abut the poured concrete wall panel plastic grout, to permanently mold and interlock the window frame to the panel wall. The sash members are fitted about a window pane which is located in interior grooves in the sash members and then glazed. Sealing means interconnects the sash to the window frame to provide a condensation-resistant, water-tight, air-tight, heat and fire-resistant concrete wall closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignees: Kajima Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha FRC
    Inventors: Tatsuo Suenaga, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Shin Terauchi, Takeo Kikuchi, Shinnosuke Aiba, Mikio Kobayashi, Yutaka Katsuta, Kenji Ago, Katsumi Kosuge, Yasuyuki Matsubara, Masato Tanaami, Shunichi Sugishita, Hideki Ikeda, Toshio Furuya, Shigeyuki Akihama, Takahiro Arai
  • Patent number: 5575870
    Abstract: A method of making a combination concrete panel wall, concrete window frame, and concrete sash glazing frame. The sill, lintel, and jambs of the window frame are fiber-reinforced concrete extrusions which are cut to length and cemented together. The hardened frame is placed in a concrete panel molding frame to locate and define a window opening. The concrete panel wall grout is then poured and dovetail-type mortise and tenon joints are precast in the exterior faces of the window frame which abut the poured concrete wall panel plastic grout, to permanently mold and interlock the window frame to the panel wall. The sash members are fitted about a window pane which is located in interior grooves in the sash members and then glazed. Sealing means interconnect the sash to the window frame to provide a condensation-resistant, water-tight, air-tight, heat and fire-resistant concrete wall closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignees: Kajima Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha FRC
    Inventors: Tatsuo Suenaga, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Shin Terauchi, Takeo Kikuchi, Shinnosuke Aiba, Mikio Kobayashi, Yutaka Katsuta, Kenji Ago, Katsumi Kosuge, Yasuyuki Matsubara, Masato Tanaami, Shunichi Sugishita, Hideki Ikeda, Toshio Furuya, Shigeyuki Akihama, Takahiro Arai
  • Patent number: 5356687
    Abstract: A combination concrete panel wall, concrete window frame, and concrete sash glazing frame. The sill, lintel, and jambs of the window frame are fiber-reinforced concrete extrusions which are cut to length and cemented together. The hardened frame is placed in a concrete panel molding frame to locate and define a window opening. The concrete panel wall grout is then poured and dovetail-type mortise and tenon joints are precast in the exterior faces of the window frame which abut the poured concrete wall panel plastic grout, to permanently mold and interlock the window frame to the panel wall. The sash members are also reinforced concrete extrusions which are cut to length, cemented together, and fitted about a window pane which is located in interior grooves in the sash members and then glazed. An elastoplastic seal interconnects the sash to the window frame to provide a condensation-resistant, water-tight, air-tight, heat and fire-resistant concrete wall closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignees: Kajima Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha F R C
    Inventors: Tatsuo Suenaga, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Shin Terauchi, Takeo Kikuchi, Shinnosuke Aiba, Mikio Kobayashi, Yutaka Katsuta, Kenji Ago, Katsumi Kosuge, Yasuyuki Matsubara, Masato Tanaami, Shunichi Sugishita, Hideki Ikeda, Toshio Furuya, Shigeyuki Akihama, Takahiro Arai