With Means For Moving Work Through, Into Or Out Of Pool Patents (Class 118/423)
  • Patent number: 7644679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for the treatment, in particular the cataphoretic dip coating of objects, in particular of vehicle chassis, comprising at least one transport car (5) which runs the objects (4) through the plant and introduces and retrieves the above to and from several treatment containers. The transport car (5) comprises a chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), which travels along the trajectory of the objects (4), at least one pivot arm (50, 51), connected to the chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), a mounting (61) joined to the pivot arm (50, 51), for at least one object. The translational displacement and the pivoting displacement of the at least one pivot arm (50, 51) and the mounting (61) are effected by independent drive devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Ehrenleitner
  • Patent number: 7640886
    Abstract: The disk lubricant tank of the present invention includes a lubricant bath cover device that resides on the lubricant bath surface to suppress surface waves. The bath cover includes a plurality of finger-like projecting members that define a plurality of disk passage slots therebetween. A plurality of disks are disposed upon a disk holding mandrel and are lowered into the lubricant bath. Each disk passes through a separate disk passage slot during the dipping process. The finger-like projections reside on the bath surface between the disk to suppress surface waves that would otherwise impinge upon side surfaces of the disk, leading to lubricant overcoat areas upon the side surfaces of the disk. Therefore, hard disks of the present invention are formed with a more uniform lubricant coating wherein unwanted lubricant overcoat areas formed by surface waves in the lubricant bath are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hung Q. Daodang, Ferdinand Hendriks, Larry W. Winterlin
  • Publication number: 20090288595
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device with revolving shafts for transversely soaking prepreg which comprises a basin filled with resin glue and revolving shafts disposed therein for laterally transporting a prepreg from the bottom side of the basin to the top side thereof. By means of the transverse route of the prepreg conducted by the revolving shafts, the time of soaking the prepreg in the basin is extended so as to reduce bubbles existed in the prepreg via fully immersing the resin glue throughout the prepreg and further increase the composite quality of the copper-clad laminate and the reliability of the metal resistant ion. Therefore, the present invention facilely gets acclimated to the industry without adding more equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Yufang HE
  • Patent number: 7615118
    Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus of the present invention, when substrates are loaded into a chamber, a frame part formed integral with a substrate holding part is interposed between the chamber and a cover, thereby sealing the interior of the chamber. When the substrates are unloaded to above the chamber, the chamber and the cover are brought into a direct contact, thereby sealing the interior of the chamber. Hence, the interior of the chamber can be sealed satisfactorily when the substrates are loaded into the chamber, and when the substrates are unloaded to above the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Fukui, Toshio Hiroe
  • Publication number: 20090274847
    Abstract: A system for preventing the accumulation of excess lubrication in the form of lubricant lines on magnetic media disks for hard disk drives uses a mandrel design that produces negligible surface waves when the disks are dipped in lubricant baths. The mandrel has inverted tear drop shaped supports for the disks. The supports are smaller in overall size than an inner diameter hole formed in the disks and diminish the formation of waves in the lubricant bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS BV
    Inventors: Xing-Cai Guo, Bruno Marchon
  • Patent number: 7611584
    Abstract: A metal film-plating system including an unwinding process part configured to provide a film, a degreasing process part configured to remove impurities from the film, an etching process part configured to perform an etching process on the film, a neutralizing process part configured to perform a neutralizing process on the film, a coupling process part configured to couple the neutralized film with a coupling agent, a catalyst-adding process part configured to adsorb a catalyst onto the coupled film, an underplating process part configured to perform an underplating process on the film, and a plating process part configured to perform a plating process on the film. Further, at least one of the unwinding process part, the degreasing process part, the etching process part, the neutralizing process part, the coupling process part, the catalyst-adding process part, the underplating process part, and the plating process part includes a wetting apparatus configured to perform a wetting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ho Park, Woon Soo Kim, Min Keun Seo
  • Patent number: 7601222
    Abstract: In a system for manufacturing a part, a first forming station forms the part from a supply of material. A chemical processing system chemically alters a surface of the part. The chemical processing system includes a tank, parts rotator, circulation system, and control system. The tank includes a chemical side and a rinse side. The chemical side includes a chemical solution and the rinse side includes a sprayer to spray a rinse solution on the part. The parts rotator assembly moves relative to the tank. The circulation system circulates fluid in the tank. The control system receives signals from a sensor and modulate the system in response to the signals. Additionally, in the system, a finishing station applies a finish to the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard H. Miller, Ronald E. Jones
  • Patent number: 7597937
    Abstract: A coating apparatus for batches of elongate flimsy members includes batch handling portion and a coating portion. The batch handling portion having an array support portion and an array alignment portion. The array support portion secures and vertically moves an array of elongate flimsy members to be lowered into an array of inlets of the coating portion, the inlets aligned in an array. The array alignment portion provides removable discrete position locating of the individual flimsy members by a guide portion that moves from an upwardly position downwardly to position each member of the array in alignment with the array of inlets. The support portion then lowers the flimsy members into the coating portion through the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Harland Medical Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Anderson, Scott D. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7594842
    Abstract: A cassette assembly and a method of manufacturing fluorescent lamps using the cassette assembly are provided. The cassette assembly includes a housing defining a process chamber and having a plurality of holes in which glass tubes for the fluorescent lamps are inserted to communicate with the chamber, a carrying unit including two or more porous plates through which the glass tubes are fitted, a plurality of ring members disposed on the porous plates to preliminarily fix the glass tubes to the carrying unit by allowing the outer circumferences of the glass tubes to contact, and a locking unit for changing the glass tubes from the preliminary fixing status to a lockup status by varying contact pressure applied between the ring members and the glass tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: DMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chul Lee, Dong-Gil Kim, Sung-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 7591299
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of long lengths of continuous-fiber metal matrix composite prepeg ribbon or tape. The tape or ribbon is produced by bringing together multiple fiber tows into a formed bundle of fibers and infiltrating the bundle with metal using a continuous pultrusion process. Pultrusion is a preferred method of tape or ribbon manufacture since it places the fibers in tension during manufacture and avoids subsequent issues associated with buckling stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian L. Gordon, Gregg W. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20090232867
    Abstract: Novel processes for coating metal surfaces and/or for attaching active substances to metal surfaces, objects having coated metal surfaces and/or active substances attached thereto and uses thereof in the preparation of implantable devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Elutex Ltd.
    Inventors: Abraham J. Domb, Daniel Mandler, Ishaiahu Danziger, Miriam Oron, Regina Okner, Galit Shustak, Avi Swed, Noam Tal
  • Publication number: 20090223826
    Abstract: Techniques for manufacturing carbon nanotube (CNT) ropes are provided. In some embodiments, a CNT rope manufacturing method optionally includes preparing a metal tip, preparing a CNT colloid solution, immersing the metal tip into the CNT colloid solution; and withdrawing the metal tip from the CNT colloid solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Yong Hyup Kim, Tae June Kang, Eui Yun Jang
  • Patent number: 7584713
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for grasping, retaining, inverting, coating and transporting a plurality of frangible conical confection shells. The present invention also relates to a modular and reconfigurable manufacturing system for producing frozen cone confections and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Norse Dairy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David McKay
  • Patent number: 7584019
    Abstract: Systems and methods allowing for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dako Denmark A/S
    Inventors: Gordon Alan Feingold, James B. Gilmartin, Mark Richard Holbrook, John A. Favuzzi, Marc E. Key
  • Patent number: 7582165
    Abstract: An assembly and method is described as employing a polymeric plug member. The plug member is used in the bottom portion of a photoreceptor drum to prevent leakage of the coating solution into the interior of a photoreceptor drum during dip-coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Bush, Peter J. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7575632
    Abstract: A system for forming a drug-polymer coated stent includes means for applying a polymeric coating onto at least a portion of a stent framework, means for drying the applied polymeric coating on the stent framework and means for directing a jet of heated gas towards excess coating portions of the dried polymeric coating that extend into apertures of the stent framework. The system also includes means for reflowing the polymeric coating with the directed jet of heated gas to remove the excess coating portions from the apertures of the stent framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Rangarajan Sundar
  • Patent number: 7568513
    Abstract: A container is provided having a periphery and a base, which enclose a cavity. The periphery and the base are connected together, the periphery upwardly extending from the base. The periphery has a first slot and a substantially opposing second slot. Each of the first and second slots is sized to permit a first end of a tape located on a roll to be slid through it. A tape holder may be connected to the container so that the tape holder lies outside of the cavity of the container. The roll of tape can be placed on the tape holder so when the tape is pulled through the “mud box”, the tape is thereby unwound. As the tape is manually pulled through the “mud box”, joint compound is thinly applied to one side of the tape. As this is done, the joint compound begins to “adhere” to the tape, conditioning the tape for excellent wall adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Paul Teel
  • Patent number: 7560140
    Abstract: An apparatus for enabling the uniform application of a layer of a coating composition to a tubular substrate includes a shaft, and upper and lower circular rim members of equal diameter that are concentrically attached to the shaft. A pneumatically inflatable tube disposed on each circular rim member has an outer diameter that is variable with changes in its internal pressure. A first flexible cylindrical sheet in contact with the inflatable tubes has parallel edges that form a first slit sufficiently wide to permit movement of the first sheet in response to pressure variation in the tubes. A second flexible cylindrical sheet surrounding the first cylindrical sheet has parallel edges that form a second slit sufficiently wide to permit movement of the second sheet also in response to pressure variation. The second slit is laterally displaced from the first slit, and the second cylindrical sheet has a diameter nearly equal to the specified diameter of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jiann-Hsing Chen, Robert A. Lancaster, Nataly Boulatnikov
  • Patent number: 7556694
    Abstract: A system for applying a thin coat of a material on one side only of a substrate is disclosed together with a process for applying the thin coat. Coatings of less than one thousand angstroms are attainable on a single surface of the substrate by controlling the speed at which a meniscus of a mix containing a predetermined concentration of the coating material travels across the single surface being coated. Various pressure, temperature and humidity controls are implemented in the process and by the apparatus as needed to obtain the desired coating characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Paul E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7550045
    Abstract: A metal surface coating treatment device and a surface coated metal manufacturing method capable of providing excellent uniformness of coating thickness, excellent balance of weight, excellent appearance, and excellent feeling at the time of operation and contact, and having a large freedom degree of design of the amount of coating and size of coated metal, the metal surface coating treatment device comprising a magnetic floating means (1) for floating a treated metal (10) in the air, an optical control means with parts 2A, 2B, and 3 preventing the floated treated metal (10) from being magnetically attracted to the magnetic floating means (1) in vertical direction, a storage tank (9) positioned vertically coaxially with the magnetic floating means (1) and storing liquid coating material (11) used for the coating treatment of the treated metal (10), and a vertical moving means having a drive mechanism (7) for adhering the liquid coating material (11) to the treated metal (10) by immersing the treated metal (10
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuharu Hama
  • Patent number: 7534297
    Abstract: In a system for coating a plurality of items, a tank unit prepares the plurality of items for painting, a painting unit paints the plurality of items, a drying unit dries the plurality, and an item conveyer conveys the plurality of items through the system as a flow of single items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hagman, Bruce N. Gilbert, Kenneth P. Zaballos
  • Publication number: 20090092758
    Abstract: The method for performing surface treatment of a rubber member includes impregnating a rubber member with a first surface-treatment liquid containing an isocyanate component and an organic solvent, to thereby form a first impregnation layer, and sequentially treating a surface of the rubber member, without exposure to air, with a second surface-treatment liquid for partially removing the isocyanate component present in the first impregnation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: SYNZTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Hirakawa, Asami Toki
  • Patent number: 7513951
    Abstract: In a system for chemically processing a metallic part, a tank, parts rotator assembly, circulation assembly, and control system are utilized to process the part. The tank includes a chemical side and a rinse side. The chemical side includes a chemical solution. The rinse side includes a sprayer to spray a rinse solution on the part. The parts rotator assembly moves relative to the tank. The circulation system circulates fluid in the tank. The control system receives signals from a sensor and modulate the system in response to the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventors: Richard H. Miller, Ronald E. Jones
  • Publication number: 20090078195
    Abstract: A method for electroless plating of a substrate is provided that comprises exposing an electroless plating reagent comprising a metal to be plated and at least one reducing agent to a solid phase Activation Material to form an activated electroless plating reagent prior to application of the electroless plating reagent to the substrate. The activated electroless plating reagent is applied to a substrate in the process chamber under conditions to cause the metal of the electroless plating reagent to deposit on the substrate. Systems and modules are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: Kurt Karl Christenson
  • Publication number: 20090068372
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a wax seal to an article such as a wine bottle including a bottom tank formed of at least one upstanding wall and a bottom wall and having an open top end, the bottom tank being fitted with electrical heating means; an upper tank formed of at least one upstanding wall and having an open top end and a closed bottom wall, the upper tank being fitted with electrical heating means, the upper tank being connected at its closed bottom wall with the open top end of said bottom tank, a screen adjustably located inside the upper tank, a pump located in the bottom tank and extending into the upper tank for conveying molten wax from the bottom tank to the upper tank and an overflow opening in the upper tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Irving
  • Publication number: 20090038546
    Abstract: A method of continuously impregnating a resin impregnable cured in place liner in a resin impregnation tower is provided. A cured in place liner having at least one layer of resin impregnable material is fed into the top of the tower, drawn down about a roller at the bottom, removed from the top of the tower and then wrapped with an outer impermeable coating. The tower is filled with resin at a suitable height to provide a sufficient pressure head of resin to impregnate the resin impregnable material fully. The impregnated liner is suitable for inversion or the pull-in-and-inflate method of installation. For liners formed with an inner impermeable layer, the liner is suitable for curing with steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Franklin Thomas Driver, Weiping Wang
  • Patent number: 7487815
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrode forming method with steps of arraying chip-style electronic components on an arraying flat bed thereby positioning and aligning the components, lowering a film coated with an adhesive in relative manner together with an adhering top plate parallel to the arraying flat bed thereby adhering ends of the positioned and aligned chip-style electronic components to the adhesive, then lowering the first film to which the chip-style electronic components are adhered in relative manner together with a coating top plate parallel to a coating flat bed provided with a conductive paste layer of a constant thickness thereby pressing the other ends of the chip-style electronic components to the coating flat bed and coating the ends of the electronic components with the conductive paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Ko Onodera, Satoshi Kurimoto
  • Publication number: 20090020315
    Abstract: A method for making multilayer printed circuits includes a) coating a non-metallized substrate with a solution which creates a light sensitive surface on the substrate, b) imaging the coated substrate with a circuit design, c) developing the imaged substrate, d) directly plating the developed image onto the coated substrate, e) coating the plated substrate with a liquid photoimageable cover coat, f) imaging the coated plated substrate with a predesigned circuitry, g) developing the liquid photoimageable cover coat, and repeating steps a) through d). Steps e) through g) are then repeated followed by steps a) through d) until a desired number of layers is achieved for the multilayer circuit. The method may be automated by having a conveyer like system which automatically unrolls and directs a roll of non-metallized substrate through various coating, imaging, developing, and plating stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Steven Lee Dutton
  • Publication number: 20080312076
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for incorporating sulfur in the porosity of the solid particles of a catalyst for the conversion of hydrocarbons or an adsorbent. This process is carried out off-site in the presence of hydrogen sulfide that is pure or diluted in hydrogen or nitrogen, a process in which said particles are made to rise or fall in a sulfur incorporation zone that comprises at least one vibratory helical coil that is essentially tubular in shape and that comprises at least two turns, whereby said particles are subjected to a temperature profile over the majority of their path in said coil and whereby said particles are brought into contact with at least one fluid on at least one portion of their path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Pierre DUFRESNE, Franck Labruyere, Maxime Meens, Loredana Romano
  • Patent number: 7455732
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems for the application of a coating to an object. The systems comprise a continuous belt comprising at least one supporting member positioned to retain the object thereon, a drive member in operative engagement with the continuous belt, a coating unit in communication with the continuous belt, and a drying unit in communication with the continuous belt and the coating unit and arranged such that the object is coated and dried on the continuous belt. The supporting member of the belt may include at least one blade member comprising a plurality of projections, at least one of which is positioned to contact the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignees: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc., George Koch Sons, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gary R. Orosz, James M. Gleason
  • Patent number: 7455733
    Abstract: There is provided a fluorescent material coating apparatus for a fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent material coating apparatus includes a cassette on which a plurality of glass tubes are detachably mounted, a delivery member having a delivery chamber communicating with first ends of the glass tubes, a negative pressure generating unit for allowing fluorescent solution to be drawn into the glass tubes by generating a negative pressure in the glass tubes communicating with the delivery chamber by lowering the pressure of the delivery chamber, a dry air supplying unit for supplying dry air to the delivery chamber to dry the fluorescent solution applied on inner surfaces of the glass tubes, a solution tank containing the fluorescent solution and disposed below the glass tubes mounted on the cassette, and a moving unit for allowing lower end portions of the glass tubes mounted in the delivery chamber to be dipped into the fluorescent solution contained in the solution tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: DMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chul Lee, Dong-Gil Kim, Sung-Jung Kim, Jeon-Gu Kim, Hong-Lae Cho
  • Publication number: 20080178800
    Abstract: A substrate processing unit includes: a vertically-movable substrate holder for holding a substrate; a pan surrounding a periphery of the substrate holder; a cell, located below the substrate holder and within the pan, having in its interior a chemical processing section; and a cell cover, capable of closing a top opening of the cell, having a plurality of spray nozzles for separately spraying at least two types of processing liquids, wherein the pan and the cell each have an individual liquid discharge line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Teruyuki Watanabe, Ryo Kato, Toshio Yokoyama, Kenichi Suzuki, Kenichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7393444
    Abstract: An installation for treating articles, especially vehicle bodies, comprises at least one treatment zone, in particular a bath containing a treatment liquid, into which the articles are introduced. The articles are conveyed through the installation in a continuous or intermittent translational movement. To this end, the installation comprises at least two transport carriages combined to form a pair, which in turn each comprise a running gear and at least one swivel arm, which is connected to the respective running gear so as to be swivellable about a first pivot pin and with which a supporting structure for the article to be treated is connected so as to be swivellable about a second pivot pin. The unit includes the two transport carriages effecting a correlated movement actually has six degrees of freedom of motion, wherein drives are provided for at least three of these degrees of freedom of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann Analgenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Ehrenleitner
  • Patent number: 7381273
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for coating elongated medical devices, such as guidewires and catheters, incorporating infrared (IR) heating tools for curing the coating while the medical devices are still in place on the coating apparatus. Coating and curing may be accomplished evenly in a dipping machine by utilizing IR heaters having heating heads with openings, the heating heads being mounted for the extension of such elongated medical devices through their openings so that the heating heads are in generally surrounding juxtaposition to the elongated medical devices. The voltage supply to the IR heaters may be selectively adjusted so as to match the wavelength of the generated IR heat to the energy absorbing capability of the particular coating solution being utilized for proper timed absorption of the infrared energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: CuringSolutions, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Collins
  • Patent number: 7368016
    Abstract: A substrate processing unit includes: a vertically-movable substrate holder for holding a substrate; a pan surrounding a periphery of the substrate holder; a cell, located below the substrate holder and within the pan, having in its interior a chemical processing section; and a cell cover, capable of closing a top opening of the cell, having a plurality of spray nozzles for separately spraying at least two types of processing liquids, wherein the pan and the cell each have an individual liquid discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Teruyuki Watanabe, Ryo Kato, Toshio Yokoyama, Kenichi Suzuki, Kenichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7341633
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a fluid processing platform. The platform includes a mainframe having a substrate transfer robot, at least one substrate cleaning cell on the mainframe, and at least one processing enclosure. The processing enclosure includes a gas supply positioned in fluid communication with an interior of the processing enclosure, a first fluid processing cell positioned in the enclosure, a first substrate head assembly positioned to support a substrate for processing in the first fluid processing cell, a second fluid processing cell positioned in the enclosure, a second head assembly positioned to support a substrate for processing in the second fluid processing cell, and a substrate shuttle positioned between the first and second fluid processing cells and being configured to transfer substrates between the fluid processing cells and the mainframe robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Lubomirsky, Arulkumar Shanmugasundram, Ian A. Pancham, Sergey Lopatin
  • Patent number: 7341629
    Abstract: An apparatus for scraping the surface of a sink roll in a molten metal coating process comprises a support member having a pair of linearly movable arms supported thereon. The support member depends from a bridge structure spanning a continuous metal coating line, and a pair or arms, the arms being disposed on opposite sides of said support member. Each arm has a scraper assembly portion attached thereto. Each scraper assembly portion has two blades affixed thereto, a forward scraper blade and a rear scraper blade, with a connecting portion connecting the two blades. The connecting portion also has a first pivot point for attaching the connecting portion to the arm associated with the scraper assembly portion, the first pivot point being disposed between said forward and rear scraper blades for following the radial contours of the roll surface. A second pivot point permits the blades to follow the crown of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: United States Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Erin G. Sapp, Michael D. Hickman, Scott E. Brooks, James M. Piper
  • Patent number: 7323058
    Abstract: An electroless deposition system is provided. The system includes a processing mainframe, at least one substrate cleaning station positioned on the mainframe, and an electroless deposition station positioned on the mainframe. The electroless deposition station includes an environmentally controlled processing enclosure, a first processing station configured to clean and activate a surface of a substrate, a second processing station configured to electrolessly deposit a layer onto the surface of the substrate, and a substrate transfer shuttle positioned to transfer substrates between the first and second processing stations. The system also includes a substrate transfer robot positioned on the mainframe and configured to access an interior of the processing enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Lubomirsky, Arulkumar Shanmugasundram, Russell Ellwanger, Ian A. Pancham, Ramakrishna Cheboli
  • Patent number: 7323059
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for the treatment, in particular the cataphoretic dip coating of objects, in particular of vehicle chassis (4), whereby the objects (4) are run by means of a transport car (5) through several treatment stations and on so doing are dipped in at last one treatment container (91) and retrieved therefrom again. The transport car (5) comprises a chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), which travels along the trajectory of the objects (4), at least one pivot arm (50, 51), connected to the chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), a mounting (61) joined to the pivot arm (50, 51), for at least one object (4) and independently operated drives (32, 33, 56, 57, 80, 81) for the translational displacement and the pivoting displacement of the at least one pivot arm (50, 51) and the mounting (61). The transport car (5) can be used not only for transport of the objects (4) for treatment but can also have a service basket (90) fixed thereto, suitable for the accommodation of at least one operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG (Koplementar: Eisenmann-Stifftung)
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Weinand
  • Patent number: 7252714
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for thermally controlled processing of microelectronic workpieces with liquids. An apparatus in accordance with and embodiment of the invention includes a process vessel configured to carry a processing liquid, such as an electroless processing liquid. The vessel has a thermally transmissive wall for transferring heat to and/or from the processing liquid within. A heat transfer device, such as a reservoir that receives processing liquid spilling over from the process vessel, transfers heat to or from the processing liquid within the process vessel. The heat transfer device can also transfer heat to or from an internal or external heat source, such as a conduit carrying a heat transfer fluid, or an electrical resistance heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle M. Hanson, Robert W. Batz, Jr., Rajesh Baskaran, Nolan Zimmerman, Zhongmin Hu, Gregory J. Wilson, Paul R. McHugh
  • Publication number: 20070178244
    Abstract: A resin coating apparatus includes a feed tank 2 for feeding a coating material 9 to a coating tank 1 and an extraction cylinder apparatus 3 for extracting the coating material inside the coating tank 1 and returning the coating material extracted to the feed tank in addition to the coating tank 1 for immersing a work 10. The coating material compulsively extracted from the coating tank in which the work 10 is immersed. The extraction cylinder apparatus has a speed regulation apparatus 4 and the extraction speed of the coating material is regulated in accordance with the shape of the work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihiro Torii, Shusaku Nakazawa, Kazuhiro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7238392
    Abstract: A swinging link mechanism, provided on a conveyance truck, for raising and lowering a vehicle body held on a supporting member includes a first arm having a fixed end section which is attached to the conveyance truck in a vertically rotatable manner by means of a horizontally oriented support axle, a second arm having a fixed end section supported rotatably on the free end section of the first arm and having a supporting member provided on the free end section thereof, and a third arm coupled rotatably between the conveyance truck and a prescribed position on the second arm. Third arm is caused to rotate the second arm in the opposite direction to the first arm in response to rotation of the first arm, thereby to make the lower movement path of the supporting member to extend substantially vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignees: Taikisha Ltd., Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Kyotani
  • Patent number: 7235135
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus and a substrate processing method suitable for processing a substrate with a plurality of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Seiji Katsuoka, Teruyuki Watanabe, Yasuyuki Motojima
  • Patent number: 7175711
    Abstract: A coating device (10) for coating a metal strip (12) in a metal melt (14) includes a shaft (16,18) that is rotatable in the metal melt (14) for guiding the metal strip (12), and a slide bearing (261, 262) for supporting the shaft (16,18). The slide bearing (261, 262) is formed by a bearing housing (32) and a bearing bushing (34) that has several pairs (361–364) of bearing surfaces and is configured so as to be circumferentially closed. The bearing bushing (34) is adapted to be set in selected rotational positions in circumferential direction in the bearing housing (32). A releasable bearing bushing fixing element (40) locks the bushing in each of the selected rotational positions with respect to the bearing housing (32). Thereby, a worn pair (361–364) of bearing surfaces can be simply replaced by a non-worn pair (361–364) of bearing surfaces by a rotation of the bearing bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Band-Zink GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Plätzer
  • Patent number: 7156920
    Abstract: The coating device (10) for coating a metal band or strip (12, 12?) in a melted metal mass (14 ) comprises a shaft (16, 18) rotatably supported in the melted metal mass (14) by a slide bearing (261, 262) is formed by a bearing housing (32) and an open bearing shell (34) held therein, with two bearing surfaces (36) . Between the two bearing surfaces (36), the bearing shell (34) comprises a deformation zone (40) with a deformation element (44) . With high radial forces of the shaft occurring, the two bearing shell halves (381, 382) are slightly spread. The flexible deformation zone ensures that the two bearing shell halves remain interconnected and resist breaking in this area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Band-Zink GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Plaetzer, Wilfried Plaetzer, Ernst-Werner Schmidt, Roman Lieutenant
  • Patent number: 7081164
    Abstract: An operating arm (12) supported on a movable body (3) is operated to move downwards, and a supporting body (14) located on the front end section of the operating arm (12) is rotated about an axis in the lateral direction of a processing line (L), whereby a conveyance object (M) supported on the supporting body (14) is immersed in a processing liquid in a processing liquid tank (1) and processed by the same. Furthermore, the conveyance object (M) is removed from the processing liquid, during which operation the supporting member (14) is rotated in accordance with the shape of the conveyance object (M), thereby controlling the angle of the conveyance object (M) upon introduction into the processing liquid, the angle of the conveyance object (M) during immersion in the processing liquid, and the angle of the conveyance object (M) upon removal from the processing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Kyotani
  • Patent number: 7052739
    Abstract: Various apparatus and methods are provided for lubricating hard memory disks. A mandrel is provided in one embodiment with three rows of teeth and provides a stable, three-point engagement with the inside edge of the disks at the center aperture. When removing disks from a cassette, the mandrel preferably places a uniform space between the disks. In a second embodiment, the mandrel may be used to lubricate single-sided hard memory disks. The single-sided hard memory disk may be positioned on the mandrel in pairs in a gap merge orientation, or equally spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardo Buitron, Peter Cheng, Walter Crofton, Kwang Kon Kim, William Maida, David Newman
  • Patent number: 7025934
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for tissue preparation for the tissue embedding, having a transport plate (15) defining a circumferential edge (15c). At the circumferential edge (15c) several recesses (16) are formed, each of which comprises a plurality of several circular cut outs (16a) being arranged so that it has an opening into the direction of the circumferential edge (15c). The transport plate (15) is surrounded by a housing (5) which defines an inner upper side (8a) on which a heating and cooling device (3) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Leica Mikrosysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7026015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the surface treatment of workpieces (12) such as vehicle bodies. One such device has a plurality of successive treatment stations (1–9), a guiding system (16, 17) having a first guiding section (16) extending in the region of the treatment stations (1–9), and a plurality of rotational mounts (13) which can move individually on said guiding system (16, 17). Each rotational mount (13) has a holding device (14) for at least one workpiece (12) and a rotational axis (15) which is arranged in such a way that the workpeice (12) in the holding device (14) can be brought into, or taken out of, one of the treatment stations (1–9) by rotation about the rotational axis (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: ABB Technology FLB Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Bernd Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 7022451
    Abstract: A method of coating a photoconductive element for an electrophotographic image forming-apparatus and an apparatus therefore are disclosed. A plurality of cylindrical bodies are immersed in a bath, which stores a coating liquid, at the same time and then lifted out of the bath. As a result, a photoconductive film is formed on each cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Kinoshita