By Means To Intermittently Advance Conveyor Patents (Class 118/687)
  • Patent number: 10881005
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing a liquid or viscous material onto a substrate are disclosed herein. One exemplary method of positioning an applicator of a dispensing system to apply a liquid or viscous material to an electronic substrate includes generating a two-dimensional image of the electronic substrate using a camera communicatively connected to the dispensing system. Based on the two-dimensional image of the electronic substrate, a first set of one or more sub-regions of the electronic substrate having one or more components that protrude above the surface of the electronic substrate is identified. The method further includes using height information relating to the one or more sub-regions having the one or more components to determine a control program for the dispensing system to position the applicator relative to the electronic substrate and dispense the liquid or viscous material onto the electronic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Per Orla-Jensen, Kenneth S. Espenschied, Patrick T. Hogan
  • Patent number: 9349405
    Abstract: A device configured to dispense material at two locations on an electronic device separated by a distance may comprise a controller and first and second material dispensing units comprising, respectively, a first body portion terminated by a first needle portion that defines a first longitudinal axis and a second body portion terminated by a second needle portion that defines a second longitudinal axis. The first and second needle portions may be configured to dispense material onto the electronic device. A positioning assembly may be configured to position the first and second material dispensing units, under control of the controller, such that the first and second longitudinal axes intersect (or appear to intersect from one or more points of view) and such that the material dispensing free ends of the first and second needle portions are spaced away from one another by the distance separating the two predetermined locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Phiphat Jungrungruangkit, Karweng Lee, Chii Ching Chee, Weerathep Klaypong
  • Patent number: 8950355
    Abstract: Provided is a full-automatic working apparatus which has a work-object conveying mechanism and can be used on a desk. The desktop working apparatus works a work-object as desired by moving relatively the work-object and a working head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Musashi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ikushima
  • Patent number: 8820378
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Lee H. Angros
  • Patent number: 8470264
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Lee H. Angros
  • Patent number: 8459201
    Abstract: A droplet applying device (2) includes: application heads (2d) configured to eject an application liquid as multiple droplets toward to-be-coated subjects (K1, K2); a moving mechanism (2c) configured to move each of the to-be-coated subjects (K1, K2) and the application heads (2d) relative to each other; and a rotating mechanism (2b) configured to rotate the to-be-coated subjects (K1, K2) in a plane intersecting with an ejecting direction in which the multiple droplets are ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignees: Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation, Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Hara, Takahiro Yamazaki, Akihiro Shigeyama, Hideyuki Suzuki, Makoto Kanbe, Tadashi Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 8356574
    Abstract: Devices and methods for coating wheel rims for the production of both standard rims and special rims, are provided. An example of a device for coating wheel rims includes a pre-treating station that is followed by a powder priming station followed by a basecoat application station and a final coating station, in particular an acrylate powder station, with the final coating station being coupled to both the power priming station and the pre-treating station by at least one conveyor, respectively. The device permits a proportion of special rims to be introduced in addition to standard rims without any impairment of the spindle-synchronous operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Gerd Wurster
  • Patent number: 8336484
    Abstract: A gluing mechanism comprising a platform, a plurality of turn tables set on the platform for workpieces, a motor for driving the turn tables and a gluing device firmly set up on the platform. The gluing device comprises a forward assembly, an elevator, a panning assembly and a plurality of glue applicators. The forward assembly is set on the platform and moves along a shorter side of the platform. The elevator is set on the forward assembly and moves relative to the platform vertically. The panning assembly is set on the elevator and moves along a longer side of the platform. The glue applicators are installed on the panning assembly. The motor drives the turn tables simultaneously. The gluing mechanism of the present invention has benefits of simple structure, a high working efficiency and proceeds a precise rotary gluing process to workpieces. Therefore, an excellent gluing quality can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cheng UEI Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pei-cheng Wu, Feng-chi Lee, Kuo-chuan Chiu, Chia-hsin Liao
  • Patent number: 8122849
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical-like products. The apparatus and method provide real-time monitoring of the pharmaceutical product and can provide real-time control. The apparatus and method can monitor the dosage both before and after it has been added to a carrier substrate. The apparatus and method can provide monitoring of each pharmaceutical product that is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham Corporation
    Inventors: Allan J. Clarke, David George Doughty, Frederick H Fiesser, David Tainsh, Dwight Walker, David Wagner
  • Patent number: 8101244
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing a plurality of products or processing a plurality of samples via dispensing. The apparatus and method provide real-time monitoring of the products/samples and can provide real-time control. The apparatus and method can monitor the liquid both before and after it has been added to a carrier substrate. The apparatus and method can provide monitoring of each product/sample that is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham Corporation
    Inventors: Allan J. Clarke, David George Doughty, Frederick H. Fiesser
  • Patent number: 8056502
    Abstract: The present invention provides film forming equipment that can reduce the space necessary for coating. The film forming equipment has an object conveyor for moving an object (50); a spray gun conveyor (41) for moving a spray gun (30) that sprays a coating material; and a controller for controlling operations of the object conveyor (41), the spray gun (30), and the spray gun conveyor, wherein the controller moves the object (50) in a specific direction while spraying a coating material from the spray gun (30) and reciprocates the object (50) so that partial layer coating can be sequentially conducted, and while coating the object (50), the controller shifts the object (50) and the spray gun (30) while keeping the relative positions of the object and the spray gun to each other constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tohru Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8037841
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes an ejection inspecting section for recognizing an inspection pattern printed on a printing unit as an image, and inspecting ejection performance of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, a workpiece alignment section for aligning a workpiece relative to a set table, a table moving section for moving the set table between the printing area and an alignment position, a unit moving section for moving the printing unit between a retracted position and an inspection position, and a controller for controlling the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, the ejection inspecting section, the table moving section, the unit moving section, and the workpiece alignment section. The controller allows alignment processing of moving the set table to the alignment position and aligning the workpiece and inspection processing of moving the printing unit to the inspection position and performing inspection of the ejection performance to be performed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kojima
  • Patent number: 8006638
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Lee H. Angros
  • Patent number: 7981479
    Abstract: A system and method for use in applying a coating of a desired material onto one or more medical implant components. The system may include one or more thermal sprayers and a rotatable holding fixture having a plurality of mounting stations each operable to hold at least one medical implant component. The fixture may be operable to rotate about a central axis and each mounting station may be operable to rotate about a respective mounting station axis. The fixture may be arranged adjacent to one or more thermal sprayers so that during operation one or more desired materials may be sprayed by the one or more thermal sprayers upon an outer surface of each of the medical implant components while the fixture rotates about the central axis and while simultaneously therewith each of mounting stations having a respective medical implant component rotates about the respective mounting station axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Howmedica Osteonics Corp., Inframat Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Lawrynowicz, Aiguo Wang, Zongtao Zhang, Jay Krajewski
  • Patent number: 7904182
    Abstract: A control system includes a clustered architecture having a master controller, a central control section including one or more first remote controllers under direct control of the master controller, and a distributed control section including a cluster controller controlled by the master controller. The cluster controller controls the activities of one or more second remote controllers. Each of the first and second remote controllers are utilized to drive one or more axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Stuart Beale, Roumen Botev, Matthew Coady, Christopher Hofmeister, Mark Ives, Jairo Moura, Robert Caveney
  • Patent number: 7836847
    Abstract: A system and method for use in applying a coating of a desired material onto one or more medical implant components. The system may include a thermal sprayer and a rotatable holding fixture having a plurality of mounting stations each operable to hold at least one medical implant component. The fixture may be operable to rotate about a central axis and each mounting station may be operable to rotate about a respective mounting station axis. The fixture may be arranged adjacent to the thermal sprayer so that during operation the desired material may be sprayed by the thermal sprayer upon an outer surface of each of the medical implant components while the fixture rotates about the central axis and while simultaneously therewith each of mounting stations having a respective medical implant component rotates about the respective mounting station axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Howmedica Osteonics Corp., Inframat Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lawrynowicz, Aiguo Wang, Zongtao Zhang, Jay Krajewski
  • Patent number: 7622004
    Abstract: A slit die has a combined, opposing pair of lips. Between the lips, the die has a lip gap and a coating liquid discharge opening formed at the lower end of the lip gap. At least one of the lips is constituted of two blocks that are vertically layered over each other and relatively movable in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the discharge opening. The slit die further has a block-engaging element for engaging the blocks together in such a way that relative positions of the blocks are adjustable, a block-fastening element for fastening the blocks together after their relative positions are adjusted, a positioning element attached to outer surfaces of the blocks, on the side opposite the discharge opening side, and defining the positions to which the blocks are relatively moved, and a fixing element for fixing the positioning element to the blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawatake, Yoshiyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7473321
    Abstract: A drain port and an exhaust port arranged at the bottom of a cup surrounding a substrate holding unit. A drainage tray is arranged below the cup so as to cover the moving area of the drain port when the substrate holding unit and the cup move in X-directions and Y-directions. An exhaust unit is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the exhaust port of the cup when the substrate holding unit is in its spin-drying position. The exhaust unit is connected to the exhaust port to suck the interior of the cup when the spin-drying of the substrate is executed. The use of a flexible tube which is always connected to the exhaust port is no longer necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Patent number: 7018476
    Abstract: A device for applying a coating medium onto a substrate, includes at least one spray valve that has a nozzle opening that can be adjusted with regard to its effective outlet area using a closing mechanism, whereby the substrate can be moved past the spray valve, which can be supplied with the coating medium under pressure via a supply line, whereby the positioning device is assigned a regulator that has at least one target value input for the instantaneously required outflow rate of the coating medium from the spray valve and at least one actual value input for the mass flow rate through a supply section arranged in front of the nozzle opening, and from the deviation between these values, the regulator forms an adjustment signal that moves the positioning device in the direction to offset the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: AMTEC Kistler GmbH
    Inventors: Leonhard Kistler, Robert Vogel
  • Patent number: 6836700
    Abstract: A method, program embodied on a computer readable medium, and various systems are provided for generating a process trajectory. A normalized image of an object is displayed on a display device of a computer system, the object including a surface that is to be processed using an end effector. A number of predefined trajectories are stored in a memory of the computer system, each of the predefined trajectories defining a motion of the end effector to process a surface of one of a number of spatial definitions. A trajectory generation system is implemented to generate the process trajectory for the end effector to process the surface of the object by associating at least one of the predefined trajectories with the normalized image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Robotic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Greene, Larry S. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6660092
    Abstract: With a device for applying a coating agent onto a cyclically moved substrate, a uniform coating thickness may be achieved, although the rate of advance is not constant. At least one spray valve is provided which is permanently supplied with coating agent and the nozzle opening of which being adjustable with regard to the size of its effective discharge area in case of change of the rate of advance of the substrate according to the dependency, for a constant layer thickness of the coating agent, on the discharge rate of the coating agent out of the spray valve on the rate of advance of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Amtec Kistler GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Vögel
  • Patent number: 6589347
    Abstract: The application of (for example, elongated strip-shaped) spots of adhesive paste to successive objects (such as paper or cardboard blanks which are to be converted into soft or hinged-lid packs for arrays of cigarettes) which are advanced stepwise below the nozzle or nozzles of one or more pasters at an adhesive-applying station is regulated by a control unit which receives signals denoting the speed of the conveyor for the objects and the position of the object at the adhesive-applying station. The control unit regulates the operation of the valve for each nozzle of the paster by taking into consideration the inertia of electrical and mechanical constituents of the paster. This ensures the application of spots having an optimum shape and an optimum position relative to the respective objects and containing predetermined quantities of adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Topack Verpackungstechnik AG
    Inventors: Jens Collin, Martin Hoy
  • Patent number: 6511545
    Abstract: A method of producing an electron-emitting device includes the steps of forming a pair of electrodes and an electrically-conductive thin film on a substrate in such a manner that the pair of electrodes are in contact with the electrically-conductive thin film and forming an electron emission region using the electrically-conductive thin film, wherein that a solution containing a metal element is supplied in a droplet form onto the substrate thereby forming the electrically-conductive thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Banno, Etsuro Kishi, Mitsutoshi Hasegawa, Kazuhiro Sando, Kazuya Shigeoka, Masahiko Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6299931
    Abstract: A system and method for setting up an applicator to treat a target blank traveling on a conveyor includes placing a mark on an example blank, where the mark represents a desired location for treatment of the target blank. The marked example blank is passed along the conveyor, and the location of the mark is sensed on the example blank. The applicator is programmed to treat the target blank at the sensed location. Further, a method and system for regulating an applicator for treating a desired location of a target blank traveling along a conveyor include passing the target blank along the conveyor and sensing an applied location of the treatment to the target blank. The applied location is compared with the desired location and responsive to the comparing, the applicator is adjusted to apply the treatment closer to the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: W. H. Leary Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Leary, Kenneth W. Santefort, Carl J. Joerger
  • Patent number: 6139639
    Abstract: A coating apparatus which comprises a feeding means to feed a coating liquid, a coating liquid applicator having a slot extending in one direction to discharge the coating liquid fed by the feeding means, and a conveying means to move at least either the coating liquid applicator or a substrate to be coated with the coating liquid relatively one to the other, comprising: (a) a first control means which comprises (a-1) a position detecting means to detect positions of the coating liquid applicator or the substrate which is moved by the conveying means, and (a-2) a controller capable of stopping the coating liquid applicator or the substrate which is moved by the conveying means at a position detected by the position detecting means such that a start-of-coating line of the substrate is in register with the slot of the coating liquid applicator and capable of starting the movement of the coating liquid applicator or the substrate which is stopped at the position; and (b) a second control means which comprises a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kitamura, Hideo Ido, Tetsuo Suzuki, Kazuhiko Abe, Hiromitsu Kanamori, Tetsuya Goto, Takayoshi Akamatsu, Masaharu Tooyama, Toshihide Sekido
  • Patent number: 5683513
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing MOS devices are disclosed. The process comprises the step of controlling a first clearance linear speed (1st CLSs) X which is the flows of an oxidizing and an annealing gases defined as ratios of the flow rates thereof to the area of a clearance between a semiconductor wafer and the interior surface of the tube of a heat treating furnace to be at least 30 cm/min while the semiconductor wafer is oxidized and annealed. The process comprises the step of controlling a second clearance linear speed (2nd CLS) Y which is a flow of the annealing gas defined as a ratio of the flow rate thereof to the area of the clearance to be at least 100 cm/min while the semiconductor wafer is taken out of the tube. The process comprises the step of controlling a relation between the 1st CLSs X and the 2nd CLS Y so that Y.gtoreq.-2.5 X+275. The process and the apparatus reduce and control the fixed-charge density in the oxide film of a MOS device with a high repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 5620520
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating internally threaded fasteners, particularly closed end fasteners, such as flanged weld nuts, which includes a powder spray arrangement, has a spray nozzle within a spray cylinder. The spray nozzle arrangement is actuated by an air cylinder to be in abutting relationship with a fastener seated in the spray position. The spray nozzle is tapped for the supply of air and for the supply of powder to the fastener threads. The spray block on which the nut is sprayed has a vacuum line that exhausts excess powder that does not adhere to the threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duffy, Eugene D. Sessa
  • Patent number: 5582676
    Abstract: The invention provides a simply-constructed apparatus for applying a substantially fixed amount of adhesive onto a scarf-cut face of a veneer. The apparatus includes: a plurality of rolls (2,4,48,50) for successively feeding veneers in a predetermined feeding direction along fibers of the veneers; a plurality of detectors (6) for detecting existence of a veneer; an adhesive reservoir (40) having a length, in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, equal to or greater than the width of the veneers; an adhesive application member (24) having a length, in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, equal to or greater than the width of the veneers; and a plurality of pivot mechanisms (26) and lifting members (28) for reciprocating the adhesive application member (24) between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 5443643
    Abstract: A resin coating system having an endless conveyor for passing components to be coated with resin successively through a preheating station, a resin coating station, and a gelification station. Coated components are exchanged with uncoated components at a transfer station along the conveyor between the gelification station and the preheating station. If an uncoated component is not ready to be transferred into the coating system or later processing machines are not ready to receive a coated component, then exchange of coated and uncoated components does not take place at the transfer station, and the coated component reapproaches the preheating and coating stations. A system and method for allowing coating of uncoated components to be completed while coated components passing through the coating station are prevented from being recoated is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Axis USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Cardini, Alessandro Faraoni
  • Patent number: 5429682
    Abstract: A surface of a 3-D object is digitized automatically and stored in a memory. Based on the signal representation of the 3-D object areas of the surface are defined for color and boundaries. Coatings application paths are defined within each area and various parameters for applying coatings for each point in each path are also defined including spray pattern, amount of coatings to be applied, speed of application along the path, among others; for each area, the points of the selected path are correlated with the angle of attack, spray pattern, amount of coatings and speed. A set of programmed instructions are compiled for execution in a general purpose computer. An assembly line of objects to be painted may then be set up and the retrieved instructions executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Advanced Robotics Technologies
    Inventors: Albert L. Harlow, Jr., Richard E. Bechtold, David Parker, Francis L. Merat, Mark Podany, Raymond C. Laning
  • Patent number: 5401531
    Abstract: A system for processing components which are to be transferred to second system. Portions of the system are selectively controlled so that when demand from the second system is stopped, processing of the components is allowed to be completed as needed. The system includes a preparation station which is stopped once demand is stopped, a processing station which continues to process components until such process can be safely stopped without producing unusable finished products, and a waiting station which is stopped once demand is stopped. The capacity of the waiting station is adjustable in order to accommodate components which must be passed out of the processing station so that other components may be passed through the processing station to complete all uninterruptable processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: AXIS USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alessandro Faraoni, Massimo Lombardi
  • Patent number: 5328085
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for applying a thin stream of flux to a surface of a printed circuit board. The dispensing head travels at a high rate of speed relative to the board during the dispensing of flux to apply thin layers of flux thereto. Preferably, the dispensing head moves transversely to the work path of a conveyor that transports the board through a flux station, at a rate of approximately 20 to 90 inches per second. Tips that dispense the flux are angularly disposed relative to the board and, if desired, make multiple passes over the surface to coat selected regions twice. Either the board is incrementally advanced through the flux station or the dispensing head is incrementally advanced relative to the board so that flux is applied when the board is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Precision Dispensing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley N. Stoops, Melaney S. Stoops
  • Patent number: 5318796
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the speed of a slave drive roller in a coating machine. Speed of the slave drive roller at a second coater is regulated by an adaptive gain allowing greater tolerances when not at run speed. That is, in addition to normal speed correction, the system accommodates greater web speed fluctuation during threadup, acceleration, and deceleration. This accommodation may be based on the sensed position of the float roller or, alternatively, on the sensed rate of acceleration/deceleration of the master drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William A. Torpey, Raymond A. Ehnot, Charles F. Puckhaber
  • Patent number: 5314711
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing green-tape type circuits, whereby through contacts and electrical circuits are obtained on a thin foil of alumina in the raw state or another analogous or like material containing reference holes or marks (29) and connecting micro-holes (30) by means of a printing process with a conductive material, the green-tape foils being able to arrive from a wound roll of basic material or from a stock of already cut foils, in which method a green-tape foil (10) complete with through connecting holes (30) and reference holes or marks (29) is positioned on a conveyor belt (12) comprising at lest specific zones of transpirable material (3) and loaded with the green-tape foil (10), which is identified as a position in relation to the belt (12), is then printed after reciprocal positioning with a printing means, is dried and discharged, the apparatus comprising at least one loading station (13), a station (15) to identify the position of the green-tape foil (10), a printing station (18)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Gisulfo Baccini
  • Patent number: 5078089
    Abstract: A spray coating booth for enclosing individual articles to be coated with a liquid spray while the articles are supported in closely spaced relation on an article conveyor for movement through the booth includes a rigid frame with fixed sidewalls and movable top and end walls which may be moved between a closed position completely enclosing an article supported on the conveyor and an open position to permit articles to be moved into and out of the booth. The movable top assures against coating liquid dripping onto and contaminating articles moving on the conveyor which are not to be coated. The end walls are supported for movement in substantially a transverse vertical plane to permit close spacing of articles on the conveyor without contact of the articles by the end walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: National Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Dugan, Daniel D. Evans, Robert Griffith, Ronald G. Mumaw
  • Patent number: 4894262
    Abstract: A lumber end sealing machine involves a pass-through design utilizing a single exhaust system and the use of traveling and rotating sealer paint spray guns. An exhaust chamber is centered over the conveyor with spray guns located at both the conveyor entrance and exit openings of the exhaust chamber. The spray guns are formed to both transversely and rotatingly pass through an end face of the package of lumber which is stopped at the center of the exhaust system. The spray guns are supported on a vertical rod suspended from a carriage with transverse movement through the use of a pneumatic rodless piston and rotational movement of the spray guns by rotation of the vertical rod by means of a cam follower mechanism engaged with a curved profile bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: API, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Heitmanek
  • Patent number: 4870921
    Abstract: A device for positioning a number of working implements, for example spray nozzles, to certain working or treatment point on a car body as the latter is supported by an overhead conveyor for travel between different working and assembly stations on a production line. The device comprises a vertically movable base structure and a working implement carrying frame movably supported on the base structure. Hydraulic jacks on the base structure are arranged to accomplish a vertical parallel movement of the frame up towad the underside of the car body until one of four contact sensors indicate contact with the later. A final vertical adjustment of the frame is accomplished by four vertical cylinders which raise the frame in a non-parallel movement until at least three of the four contact sensors indicate contact with the car body. The docking of the frame to the car body is completed by activating two expandable dowels which are introduced into openings in the car body bottom shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Dick L. Svensson, Claes-Erik Soderman
  • Patent number: 4785761
    Abstract: A mobile seed cleaning and/or separating apparatus has a wheeled, self-propelled chassis mounting a plurality of cleaning and/or separating stations. The stations are interconnected by conveyors which transport the seed through the apparatus. The cleaning and/or separating stations include a coarse screen to remove material of a size larger than the seed to be separated, an aspirator to remove relatively light material, a pair of pocket cylinders to separate materials of different sizes and a screen cylinder to finally screen the seed. After cleaning, the seed passes through a weighing device which continuously batch-weights the seed and actuates a prickling machine to introduce a furyside, mold-inhibitor or other chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Neville J. Greenbank
  • Patent number: 4777907
    Abstract: In the apparatus for feeding test strips automatically into an analyzer, in order to separate these, fix the position of the test zones and reverse the test strips and moisten their test zones with liquid, a supply container (1) for the test strips (13) is equipped with an orifice (14), in which a transport device (12) is arranged. The transport device is equipped with a guide plate (7) and with drivers and has noses (19, 19a) which interact with a moveably arranged bar (11) projecting into the orifice (14). The guide plate (7) merges into a guide (8) which opens into a reversing device (2, 2a). Between guide (8) and reversing device is arranged a closing means (9) for the guide (8), the said closing means being connected via a lever (5) to a holding device (10) for the test strips (13), and the holding device projects into the guide and is mounted rotatably in synchronism with the closing means. It is also equipped with a drive device (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans D. Sanger
  • Patent number: 4770121
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a plurality of semiconductor substrates on a movable, support in a desired pattern, in a semiconductor vapor phase growing apparatus. A memory is provided for storing two dimensional data corresponding to the desired pattern. The desired pattern is predetermined by the sizes of the substrates and the space available on the flat support. A loading/unloading device loads and unloads the substrates on the support at positions corresponding to the two-dimensional data read from the memory. A positioning device positions the support so that the substrates can be loaded and unloaded at the predetermined positions. A control device synchronizes the movement of the loading/unloading device and the positioning device in accordance with the selected position so that the substrates are loaded and unloaded on the flat support in the desired pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ebata, Yoshizo Komiyama
  • Patent number: 4667621
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for painting components of an automobile more efficiently and more economically. To achieve the efficient production of painted components, the painting system includes parallel input and output main transfer lines and a plurality of sub transfer lines which are located perpendicular to and between the parallel input and output main transfer lines.A plurality of input intersections are formed between the input main transfer line and the sub transfer lines, and a plurality of output intersections are formed between the output main transfer line and the sub transfer lines. Each sub transfer line includes a turntable within a painting booth which is located at a central portion of each sub transfer line and a painting device is located at the side of each turntable.Further, each sub transfer line includes at least an input side waiting position and at least an output side waiting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Gen Kusunoki, Akira Meguro, Yasuo Tokushima, Koji Ohta, Tadashi Kawai, Akihiko Sugata
  • Patent number: 4364977
    Abstract: An automatic self-adjusting processing apparatus for plating an object is described. The apparatus has a plating head, an apparatus coupled to the plating head which is responsive to the presence of the object for indicating the relative position of the plating head and the object, and an apparatus coupled to the indicating apparatus for automatically adjusting, if necessary, the relative position of the plating head and the object to a predetermined relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Carl E. Bernardi
  • Patent number: 4256051
    Abstract: A bead dusting apparatus for applying talc to a circular tire bead utilizing a housing with a guideway therethrough. An entrance ramp feeds beads seriation into the housing where a first pair of rollers support and rotate each bead through a tank containing talc. Each bead is then indexed into a second portion of the housing where a second pair of rollers supports and rotates the beads between opposed brushes to remove excess talc. The dusted beads are discharged by a bead indexing mean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Clifford A. Landsness