Means To Transfer A Load Back And Forth Between The Mainline Conveyor And The Work Station Patents (Class 198/346.2)
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Patent number: 8042360Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus relate to handling and processing glass, such as glass for use in liquid crystal displays, involving a measurement device, such as a distortion gauge, residing in an environmentally controlled measurement room, and a cassette loading device for storage and conveyance of glass between the measurement device and other components of a glass handling and processing system residing with the cassette loading device in a preparation room. A mail-slot opening may be present in a wall separating the measurement room from the preparation room. A gauge conveyor may convey glass between the cassette loading device and the measurement device. A distortion gauge may measure a reference value of the product glass with respect to reference marks on a glass reference plate of the distortion gauge. Other examples of a measurement device include a warp gauge, a stress gauge, a thickness gauge, and a compaction gauge.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Scott Lee Adriaansen, Jianhua Li, Creighton J Miller, Paul Maynard Schermerhorn
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Patent number: 8042240Abstract: A machine tool is provided with a machining unit, a base plate, an intermediate plate, a lower plate, and a pair of upper plates. The machining unit is fixed to a frame. The base plate is movable along a rail on the frame. The base plate moves a work piece toward and away from the machining unit. The intermediate plate is movable along the rail between the machining unit and the base plate. The intermediate plate pushes a reference plane of the work piece set on the base plate so that the work piece is positioned in a machining position. The lower plate is tiltably connected to the base plate and the upper plates are tiltably connected to the lower plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shingo Mitsui, Shugo Arakawa, Makoto Izumi
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Patent number: 8028609Abstract: A work sheet processing system enables the effective utilization, of a redundant work sheet corresponding to a material work sheet from which product work sheets have been cut. The work sheet processing system includes a work sheet processing machine that performs a processing operation of cutting a product word sheet from a material work sheet, a redundant work sheet stocker that stores a redundant work sheet that is a remaining part of the material work sheet from which the product work sheet has been cut by the work sheet processing machine, and carry-in and carry-out means for carrying out the redundant work sheet stored in the redundant work sheet stocker into the original work sheet processing machine or another work sheet processing machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.Inventor: Daisuke Katsuyama
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Patent number: 8025473Abstract: A carrying system 1 has a carrying path which is laid out in such a manner as to pass through the lower sides of loading table 11 and the like provided at the front face side of treating devices 10, 100, 200, and covered by a cover 5. As the carrying path is positioned below the loading tables, the occupying areas of the loading table 11 and the like and portions of the region of the carrying path are shared so that space saving is achieved, and the accessibility to the treating device 10, 100 or the like from the front side thereof is improved, thereby realizing a layout which facilitates maintenance. A loading surface 11d or the like of the loading table 11 is set to a height which allows a conventional overhead-type carrying system 2 and unmanned carrying vehicle 3 of a floor-type carrying system to load an object on the loading surface, thereby ensuring the co-existence with the other carrying systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Teruo Asakawa
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Publication number: 20110226584Abstract: Various embodiments include a locating device for holding a puck in a locating position in a conveyer system, comprising a base portion, a rail section, and a rotating disc rotatable supported in the base portion and having a puck recess, where the locating device comprises a locating position between the puck recess of the rotating disc and a positioning means in the rail section, and that the locating device comprises resilient means adapted to hold a puck in the locating position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: FlexLink Components ABInventor: Anders Ek
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Patent number: 8020688Abstract: A mechanical system is provided for processing workpieces, especially metal sheets. The system has a storage side with a workpiece store, a processing side with a plurality of mechanical processing units, and a mechanical feeding device which is provided between the storage side and the processing side. The feeding device comprises a plurality of feeding units, with different feeding units of the feeding devices being associated with different processing units. The feeding units are configured to pick up work pieces at the storage side and deliver them at the processing side to the respectively associated processing unit(s). In addition or as an alternative, the feeding units may pick up workpieces at the processing side from the respectively associated processing unit(s) and deliver the workpieces at the storage side.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2007Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: TRUMPF Sachsen GmbHInventors: Friedrich Kilian, Harry Thonig, Thomas Poike
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Patent number: 8011491Abstract: A conveyance apparatus has a conveyance carriage for conveying a vehicle body, a vehicle-body support, a synchronous traveling carriage capable of traveling in synchronization with the conveyance carriage from a start point position to an end point position, a lifter provided with an elevating base that ascends via an aperture arranged on a floor surface of the conveyance carriage, and an elevating table for supporting an engine of an engine carrying-in carriage that stops at a fixed stop position and is lifted up to a predetermined height by the elevating base of the lifter.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Nakagawa, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Shigeyoshi Nishihara
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Patent number: 7984543Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for electronic device manufacturing. The invention includes removing a first substrate carrier and a second substrate carrier from a moving conveyor using an end effector assembly and concurrently transferring the first and second substrate carriers from the moving conveyor to a support location via the end effector assembly. Numerous other aspects are provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Martin R. Elliott, Vinay K. Shah, Eric A. Englhardt, Jeffrey C. Hudgens
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Patent number: 7976260Abstract: A work handling apparatus includes a pair of traveling guides (20, 20?) provided so as to extend in a front-and-rear direction X at right and left sides, and a pair of direct-acting arms (30, 30?) provided so as to travel independently on the pair of traveling guides. The direct-acting arms are extendable from contracted positions, at which the arms oppose each other and avoid mutual interference in a right-and-left direction Y, to extended positions at which the arms overlap with each other. An operation spot (41) is arranged in an operation area (40) sandwiched between the pair of traveling guides for performing a predetermined operation to a work. Also, work tools (60, 60?) are attached to the pair of direct-acting arms (30, 30?), respectively, for transferring the work between a work storage area (50) and the operation spot (41) or performing an operation after transfer.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Hirata CorporationInventor: Yasunari Hirata
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Patent number: 7975827Abstract: A method for processing portable objects and a machine for processing portable objects including a device (1) for transferring portable objects (C), incorporating an integrated circuit and processing means consisting of at least two processing lifts (2, 2?) separated by a space of a size of a portable object (C), translatory moved perpendicularly to the plane of the main surface of the portable objects (C) and sequentially on a guiding support (25) by driving and positioning means, each lift (2, 2?) being formed with a parallelepipedal plate (22) provided with at least two processing devices, both lifts having determined different roles. The method consists of successively placing each portable object to be processed in contact with a processing station of the first lift and of the second lift.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: DataCard CorporationInventor: Sebastien Michenet
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Patent number: 7909154Abstract: A pallet exchanger capable of providing a sufficient operation space on an operator's access side, for example, in front of a machining space, without increasing the size of the exchanger is provided. An arm is formed in a chevron shape in a plane view including two forks as pallet supporting parts, which are arranged radially from a turning spindle with less than 180° angle between them such as 120° . Further, by means of a table, the arm is slidable between a stand-by position in front of a machining space and a retreating position laterally separated by a predetermined distance from the stand-by position in a horizontal position. By moving the arm on the retreating position side, an operation space can be provided in front of the machining space.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Okuma CorporationInventor: Makoto Yoshida
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Publication number: 20110061991Abstract: A mechanical pallet lift, such as incorporated into a conveyor driven process, having a base. A lower frame is displaceably supported upon the base and includes a first plurality of upwardly extending and spaced apart walls. An upper frame includes a second plurality of downwardly extending and spaced apart walls which nest in offsetting fashion with the first plurality of walls in an initial position. A rotary driven crank includes a first linkage elevating the upper frame so that the second walls are located above the first walls, a second linkage successively displacing the lower frame to cause the first walls to align with the second walls concurrent with the first linkage reverse lowering the upper frame to seat upon the lower frame. A limit stroke bracket surrounds the base includes column supports which, upon shifting in the elevated position, are engaged by horizontal exterior supports mounted to said upper frame upon reverse actuating of said crank at an intermediate elevated position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: BAE Industries, Inc.Inventor: Charles L. Hites
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Patent number: 7895738Abstract: Staking apparatus (22) and a method for staking one or more fasteners (44) of a part assembly (18) are provided by a conveyor (14), a lower lift and lock assembly (24) including a lower lifter (28) and a lower lock (30), and an upper press (26). Lower and upper staking punches (40, 60) of the lower lifter (28) and the upper press (26), respectively, provide the staking while at least one and preferably a plurality of springs (36) resiliently support a pallet assembly (16) on which the part assembly (18) is positioned.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Porter Group, LLCInventor: Richard T. Oliver
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Patent number: 7862284Abstract: A pallet transfer system capable of smoothly transferring a pallet between a machine tool and a pallet conveying device is provided. The pallet transfer system includes an intermediated station to temporally place a pallet between a front ward position of a pallet stand-by position and the pallet stand by position. The pallet on a conveying plate at a stand-by position is carried to a temporary placing position by horizontally moving the conveying plate. Then the pallet is transferred to the intermediate position by being supported by lift arms which are raised from the conveying plate. Further, the pallet, supported by the lift arms, is transferred from the intermediate station to a stacker crane by advancing the stacker crane toward the intermediate station side and entered into an entering space below the pallet.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Okuma CorporationInventor: Masayuki Kiriyama
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Patent number: 7849995Abstract: Disclosed is a device for conveying workpieces through a press working line or a transfer molding press. The conveying device is embodied as a telescopic feeder and is designed such that a jib which can be displaced in a longitudinal direction is mounted or guided by means of guiding carriages that travel along. An adequate entraining mechanism is provided in order to ensure the traveling motion of the guiding carriages.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Mueller Weingarten AGInventor: Rainer Reichenbach
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Publication number: 20100307888Abstract: A conveyor system includes a kitting conveyor subsystem arranged to transport kits to a washing station, a washing conveyor subsystem arranged to receive kits from a kitting conveyor subsystem and to transport washed kits towards an assembly station, and an assembly conveyor subsystem to receive washed kits from the washing conveyor subsystem and transport the kits to an assembly station, wherein the kits traverse the system from the kitting conveyor subsystem to the assembly station automatically without human intervention. A self-adjusting conveyor includes a table top containing a conveyor belt, legs arranged to support the table top, an adjustment fixture arranged to adjust the table top to a working height, and a controller to return the table top to a home height upon activation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Constance H. Jones, Edwin G. Kepler, Matthew Ferguson
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Publication number: 20100300834Abstract: A solar cell module conveyer comprising an assembly line for intermittently feeding solar cells that constitute a solar cell module, and having machinery arranged for successively executing the working/treating steps; belt conveyers working as an inspection line which is synchronized with the assembly line to inspect the solar cell module fabricated on the assembly line through various working/treatment steps; and a transfer mechanism for transferring the solar cell module from the assembly line onto the belt conveyers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2007Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Masayoshi Yokoo, Koichi Yoshida, Norikazu Kainuma, Akio Murakami
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Patent number: 7836582Abstract: Provided is a PCB assembly machine including a board handling system configured to transport a PCB through the PCB assembly machine, wherein the PCB assembly machine further includes a pick and place system configured to pick and place electrical components onto the PCB. The PCB assembly machine also includes a feeder system configured to supply the electrical components, wherein the board handling system mounts directly to the feeder system.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Universal Instruments CorporationInventors: Koenraad Alexander Gieskes, John Edward Danek
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Patent number: 7824613Abstract: A control system for a bank of analytical instruments operates the instruments as a group rather than singly. The system includes an autoloader at a sample preparation station into which an individual loads sample vials of unknown material. A second autoloader provides sample vials of known material that can be used to calibrate instruments. A computer controls the autoloader and a conveyor system to deliver a selected one of the vials to a selected instrument. The conveyor system includes a group of distributors, typically in series, to deliver a vial to any one of a large group of instruments. The conveyor system is preferably a pneumatic system including a receiver and technique for slowing the vials down when they approach the receiver. The receiver is positioned to deliver the vial to an autoinjector of the instrument. A computer monitors and communicates with the analytical instrument to obtain inputs to control components of the system.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Inventor: Daniel T. Richter
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Patent number: 7802671Abstract: An auto-feed assembly (102) for selectively transporting containers to a marking apparatus (100) is provided. The marking apparatus (100) includes a marking device for selectively applying a mark to a container (103). The auto-feed assembly includes a staging assembly (104) for processing a plurality of containers and a singulator assembly (112) in communication with the staging assembly (104) for isolating at least one container (103) from the plurality of containers. The auto-feed assembly (102) further includes a shuttle (210) disposed between the singulator assembly (112) and a portion of the marking apparatus (100), wherein the shuttle (210) is adapted for transporting the at least one container (103) to the portion of the marking apparatus (100).Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Talyst Inc.Inventors: Darcy O. Clarke, James E. Torina, Joel Butt, Glenn Eastman, Stephen Pawlawski
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Patent number: 7798316Abstract: A system for handling vehicle frames. The system includes a conveyor assembly including a loading end and an unloading end, and the conveyor assembly carries a plurality of vehicle frames thereon. The system also includes a frame transfer assembly disposed at the unloading end of the conveyor assembly. The frame transfer assembly may be adapted to grasp a vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly and transfer the vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly. A vehicle frame inversion system is also provided that includes a first robotic inversion device that may include a first clamping system, and a second robotic inversion device that may include a second clamping system. The first and second clamping systems are adapted to grasp a vehicle frame, and the first and second robotic inversion devices are adapted to lift and invert the vehicle frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventors: James G. Powers, Allan C. McNear, Ronald M. Laux, Robert A. Florian, Paramjit S. Girn
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Patent number: 7779985Abstract: The invention relates to a linear conveyor device (30) for objects (20), whereby the objects are taken by drive tongues (40), arranged on circulating toothed belts (31, 32). The objects are secured against lifting off the conveyor device, particularly mechanically, by a cover strip (50). Light objects can thus also be conveyed at high rate in intermittent operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2005Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Soudronic AGInventor: Peter Gysi
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Patent number: 7743903Abstract: A panel feeding device, panel feeding method, and panel assembling device are provided that are capable of stably conveying a large panel. On panel assembling where a display panel is assembled by joining substrate (7) to glass panel (5), in a panel feeding device that feeds glass panel (5) to a working position, a panel conveying means that conveys glass panel (5) is supported by a pair of placing tables (4), each moving along carrier rails, at both ends of the bottom surface, and substrate 7 bonded to glass panel (5) extending from glass panel (5) is supported by supporting members (24c) and (25c) provided extending from placing table (4). This makeup enables stably conveying a large panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2005Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Tomoaki Nakanishi
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Publication number: 20100140047Abstract: A device for transporting articles within a packaging machine is disclosed. The device includes at least one conveying system for the articles to be packaged or for the packaging units for the articles to be packaged. The conveying system includes a continuously circulating transport track. The at least one conveying system has several trays that can be connected to each individual transport track. Each conveying system is configured with an upper level and a lower level. A first lifting unit is associated with each conveying system at the beginning and a second lifting unit is associated with each conveying system at the end, said lifting units moving the trays at the beginning and at the end of the conveying system between the upper level and the lower level.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2009Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: KRONES AGInventors: Alban Hutter, Christian Canalicchio
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Patent number: 7726460Abstract: The present invention relates to a tray transfer system (TTS). This system is designed to automatically transfer trays of mail between dollies and conveyor belts. The TTS is an efficient method for shipping, moving, storing, loading, and unloading mail trays. It allows mail-processing centers to physically and temporally separate the process of sorting mail and the process of moving mail into automation compatible trays (ACT).Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Mark Thomas Neebe, Thomas Anthony Hillerich, Randall Keith Neilson, Robert Lee Schlender, Matthew Gene Good, Jacob L. Timm
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Patent number: 7721871Abstract: Travelling carrier delivery equipment includes a delivery unit for transferring a travelling carrier that has no self-running means between a movable rail and a main rail by means of external friction-driven, and the travelling carrier is provided with a friction driving surface across its entire length, the delivery unit has a friction drive wheel and friction drive wheel moving means, the friction drive wheel is provided on the movable rail and is switchable between a driving state, in that it propels the travelling carrier via the friction driving surface and a driving release state, and the friction drive wheel moving means reciprocates the friction drive wheel between a retreating position (R), at which the friction drive wheel can be made to contact with the friction driving surface of the travelling carrier supported on the movable rail and a forwarding position (F), at which the friction drive wheel can be made to contact with the friction driving surface of the travelling carrier supported on the maiType: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Daifuku Co., LtdInventors: Ryosuke Takano, Shigeyoshi Nishihara
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Patent number: 7715947Abstract: A system for lapping gear sets with a ring gear and a pinion gear. The system includes a lapping machine tool and a robot. The lapping machine tool has a first spindle and a second spindle. The second spindle is rotatable about an axis that is generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the first spindle. The lapping machine tool has a loading zone for loading the first and second spindles. The robot has an end effector with a first end that is configured to hold one of the gear sets. The robot is configured to position the first end of the end effector into the loading zone and to load the first gear set to the lapping machine tool without removing the end effector from the loading zone such that the ring gear is loaded onto the first spindle and the pinion gear is loaded onto the second spindle.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Thomas Bickersteth, Robert G. Greene, Kenneth John Gembel, II
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Patent number: 7677382Abstract: An assembling apparatus and method easily applicable to an existing production line and capable of improving assembling quality and reducing equipment cost. The assembling apparatus performs processing such as part assembling or the like to a processed part which is free-flow conveyed by a processed part conveyor. The processing is performed by a robot which is conveyed in the same direction as the processed part by a robot conveyor having its own motor. The processed part conveyor is provided with a removable pallet for supporting the processed part. The robot conveyor comprises a turntable which mounts and rotationally positions the robot thereon, a pallet support provided on the turntable so that the removed pallet from the processed part conveyor is supported thereon, and a connector for connecting with the processed part conveyor to synchronously convey the same.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sumio Noguchi, Masakazu Adachi
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Patent number: 7654379Abstract: A system and method for machining an elongate workpiece in a plurality of work cells are provided. The work cells are positioned along a substantially linear process flow path so that the work operations can be performed on different lengthwise portions of the workpiece simultaneously. A transport system advances the workpiece from an infeed system along the process flow path, thereby moving the lengthwise portions of the workpiece successively through the work cells. The transport system includes a plurality of pallets that can be engaged to the workpiece so that the workpiece is supported by the pallets throughout at least part of the machining system.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark C. Boberg, Mark P. Proulx, Hugh R. Schlosstein, C. Warren Turner, Gaye Turner, legal representative
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Patent number: 7648018Abstract: An article transport device comprises an endless revolving body that is configured to move along a cyclic path in a substantially horizontal direction; a plurality of article supports each of which supports an article, wherein the article supports move together with the endless revolving body with the supports spaced apart from each other in a traveling direction; a support mechanism for supporting the article supports to the endless revolving body such that the article supports can move between a transport position adjacent the endless revolving body and an away position spaced apart from the transport position; and a guide mechanism for causing at least some of the article supports to move from the transport position to the away position and to move from the away position to the transport position, at an article delivering location or an article receiving location along the cyclic path of the endless revolving body.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshitaka Inui
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Publication number: 20100006392Abstract: A device for conveying a workpiece from a processing station and/or to a processing station, has a gripping device with gripping jaws which reach over the workpiece and move it along a conveying device from the processing station and/or to a processing station; the gripping jaws which reach over the workpiece are situated on a carrier in such a manner that the distance between them is adjustable, and at least one processing tool for the workpiece is also situated on the carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventor: Karl WEINMANN
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Publication number: 20090321219Abstract: In an overhead conveyance/storage system 1 including at least a storage area 100 for the storage of products (e.g., tires) 200, at least one transfer holder 300 adapted to move through a ceiling space in the storage area 100 in three dimensions, including vertical, transverse and longitudinal directions while holding the products 200, and unloader 500 for carrying out the products 200 from the storage area 100, a product receiving position (product unloading position) 501 of the unloader 500 is set to a nearly central part of the storage area 100 when seen in plan. The overhead conveyance/storage system 1 further includes loader 400 for carrying the products 200 into the storage area 100, and product discriminator 402 is disposed in the loader 400.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2006Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: HIRATA CORPORATIONInventors: Ryoichi Wada, Issei Isaka, Toshihiko Watanabe
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Publication number: 20090211876Abstract: A reworking system includes a reworking machine configured for reworking products belonging to a first type and a second type, a main conveyer belt configured to transport the products to be reworked, first and second branch conveyer belts connected to the main conveyer belt and configured to transport the first and second types of the products to be reworked, a primary scanner installed on the main conveyer belt and configured to scan bar codes of the products to be reworked, and a computer configured to receive and process scanned data from the primary scanner, and actuate the main conveyer belt, the first branch conveyer belt, and the second branch conveyer belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicants: HON JU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: KE CAO
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Publication number: 20090205932Abstract: A system for removing plastic wrapping from round cotton modules includes a gantry having a stationary base located in front of a disperser. A separate conveyor between the gantry and the disperser receives unwrapped round cotton modules from the gantry. Because the gantry is stationary while the disperser digests an upstream module, a gap is created between the upstream module and the module being unwrapped. This gap is closed up when the most recently unwrapped module is placed on the separate conveyor which is driven at a high rate of speed to abut, nor nearly abut, the modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventor: Jimmy R. Stover
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Patent number: 7540366Abstract: The invention relates to a method for moving paper, board and cellulosic web rolls in a roll packaging system having a plurality of roll handling stations and at least one indexing conveyor capable of operating on at least two elevation levels. According to the method, the rolls are moved in the packaging system by an indexing conveyor car, which is adapted to move synchronously at each roll handling station. The car is moved in a return motion when the indexing conveyor car is in its lowermost position. The position of the roll is measured. At least one roll is admitted onto the indexing conveyor car while having the car driven into its lowermost position (base elevation level 0) and the roll is transferred by the movement of the indexing conveyor car driven into its base elevation level 0 in such a fashion that the roll is positioned into an appropriate position in regard to the function of the roll handling stations for moving the rolls to the roll handling stations.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2005Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.Inventor: Harri Lindberg
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Publication number: 20090127069Abstract: A device and a method for transporting an object to a processing device by way of a supporting component. The processing device has a base and a side wall. The advancing device has a supporting component for carrying the object, a displacing component, and an activating component. The supporting component can be moved in an advancing direction toward the processing device. A slot has been formed into the side wall of the processing device. The displacing component is embodied for moving the supporting component transversally or obliquely to the advancing direction through the slot. The activating component is embodied for activating the displacing component in such a manner that the displacing component will move the support device through the slot and the side wall will sweep an object located on the support device off the support device so that the swept-off object will drop onto the base of the processing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Peter Enenkel
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Publication number: 20090095596Abstract: A workpiece transfer apparatus is provided for transferring workpieces throughout an entire transfer path. A workpiece is transferred along a production line and is processed by processing facilities. Workpiece graspers grasp a workpiece. Rails are arranged above the processing facilities and movably hang the workpiece graspers. The rails are arranged so that at least the two of the rails partially overlap with each other above at least one of the processing facilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Hirokazu Usui
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Patent number: 7510067Abstract: A large rectangular rotary table includes a fabricated tubular metal frame having top plates for supporting fixtures and large motor vehicle parts. A center portion of the table frame is supported by an annular turret bearing mounted on a base plate spaced above a floor plate by adjustable leveling screws. A drive unit is also supported by the base plate within the bearing and the center portion of the table frame and includes a planocentric gear reducer driven by an electric servo motor projecting above the table. A laterally projecting torque arm is mounted on the output of the gear reducer and is connected to the table frame by a sliding drive pin assembly which prevents radial loads on the gear reducer when the table is indexed. A fluid actuated table locating pin alternately engages a locating seat on each end of the table after the table is indexed.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Easom Automation Systems, Inc.Inventors: Reginald D. Kelley, John L. Vaphiadis
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Publication number: 20090078532Abstract: Disclosed is a device for conveying workpieces through a press working line or a transfer molding press. The conveying device is embodied as a telescopic feeder and is designed such that a jib which can be displaced in a longitudinal direction is mounted or guided by means of guiding carriages that travel along. An adequate entraining mechanism is provided in order to ensure the traveling motion of the guiding carriages.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2005Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventor: Rainer Reichenbach
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Publication number: 20080277885Abstract: A solar cell production system utilizes self-contained vacuum chucks that hold and cool solar cell wafers during transport on a conveyor between processing stations during a fabrication process. Each self-contained vacuum chuck includes its own local vacuum pump and a closed-loop cooling system. After each wafer is processed, it is removed from its vacuum chuck, and the vacuum chuck is returned to the start of the production line by a second conveyor belt. In one embodiment, each vacuum chuck includes an inductive power supply that is inductively coupled to an external source to drive that vacuum chuck's vacuum pump and cooling system. An optional battery is recharged by the inductive power supply, and is used to power the vacuum pump and cooling system during hand-off between adjacent processing stations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2007Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: David G. Duff, Craig Eldershaw
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Publication number: 20080264758Abstract: The present invention provides a work sheet processing system that enables the effective utilization, without adverse effects on the operation of a work sheet processing machine or other peripheral devices, of a redundant work sheet corresponding to a material work sheet from which product work sheets have been cut, a part of the redundant work sheet being still capable of being processed into other product work sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventor: Daisuke Katsuyama
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Patent number: 7438175Abstract: Embodiments of a vacuum conveyor system are provided herein. In one embodiment a vacuum conveyor system includes a first vacuum sleeve having a plurality of rollers that support and move substrates through the first vacuum sleeve. A port is provided for sealably coupling the first vacuum sleeve to a process chamber. A first substrate handler is disposed proximate the port. Multiple ports may be provided for sealably coupling the first vacuum sleeve to a plurality of process chambers. A dedicated substrate handler is provided for each process chamber. A second vacuum sleeve may be sealably coupled to an opposing side of the process chambers. The vacuum conveyor system may be modular with independent modules linked via load lock chambers. The plurality of rollers may compensate for any sag of the leading edge of a substrate being transported thereupon.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: John M. White, Wendell T. Blonigan
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Patent number: 7434675Abstract: In a system for equipping component carriers with electrical components, two feed paths for component carriers that are parallel to one another are provided, one being conducted on a straight line over equipping locations of the system and the other being conducted past the equipping locations. Handover devices with which the component carriers can be arbitrarily switched between the two paths are provided between the equipping locations. As a result thereof, a line, parallel or mixed operation of the system is possible, in adaptation to the component carriers to be equipped.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1999Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rainer Rohm, Peter Mison
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Patent number: 7378610Abstract: A mail sorting and distributing transfer system, which smoothly conveys mail on a mail sorting line having a compound curve whose line is not in a plane, but is three-dimensional, whereby the mail can be reliably transferred to a conveyor basket and conveying power savings are achieved. The system 100 receives mail in a transfer basket 120 hung at an outer circumferential edge of a mail sorting and distributing turn table 110 and transfers the mail through a transfer port 122 to a conveyor basket 130, which circulates on a mail sorting line O. The conveyor basket 130 includes an inner circumferential side carriage 131 and an outer circumferential side carriage 132, which respectively travel on an inner circumferential side rail 142 and an outer circumferential side rail 143 of the mail sorting line O while hanging a basket body 133 by both sides in a carried state.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2004Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Kenji Umezawa, Shogo Okamoto, Masahiro Asukai, Masahiko Yoshida
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Patent number: 7347312Abstract: An improved distribution system and method of operating the same are provided. In one embodiment, the distribution system includes a plate for loading a plurality of substrates thereon, a first transfer assembly for transferring the substrates from the plate to a conveyer, and a distribution assembly for distributing the substrates transferred by the conveyer to a first testing assembly and a second testing assembly. The distribution assembly includes a first sub-conveyer and a second sub-conveyer, and the outlet of one of the first sub-conveyer and the second sub-conveyer corresponds to the inlet of one of the first testing assembly and the second testing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2005Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-Yong Han, Jun-Ho Cheong, Byung-Woo Jung
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Publication number: 20080041694Abstract: A buffer station provides potential improvement for the operation of a facility. By storing to-be-accessed workpieces in the buffer stations of an equipment, the operation of the facility is not interrupted when the equipment is down. The workpieces can be retrieved through emergency access port of the buffer station, thus ensure the continuous supply of workpieces for the workpiece flow of the facility. Algorithm for getting the needed workpieces to the buffer station is also provided through a controller or a computer mechanism. The buffer station can be incorporated in a stocker, such as wafer stocker or reticle stocker.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
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Patent number: 7325666Abstract: A manufacturing plant comprises at least one conveyor for conveying works and at least one processing machine. In front of a processing machine, provision is made for a delivery device which comprises a rotary table on which at least one pivoted work grab is disposed. A pivoting drive is disposed on the rotary table, acting of the work grab for pivoting the work grab between a downward position of delivery and removal and an upward conveying position.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Cross Huller GmbHInventors: Gerald Stengele, Jörg-Michael Nussbaum, Ioan-Mircea Corbean
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Publication number: 20080016669Abstract: A cell for automated assembly operations, in particular for the assembly of parts of multicylinder internal-combustion engines, has manipulator means that are designed for simultaneous assembly of a plurality of elements on a work piece and that are adjustable for varying the distance between the positions of said elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: Comau S.p.A.Inventor: Luigi Migliore
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Publication number: 20070284217Abstract: A conveyor 4 for transporting a reticle cassette 18 is provided. A lifter 16 of a rail vehicle 14 lifts the reticle cassette 18 for transferring the reticle cassette 18 between the inside of a dummy FOUP 22 and the conveyor 4.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2007Publication date: December 13, 2007Applicant: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yasuhisa Ito
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Patent number: 7306088Abstract: An assembly plant, in particular for assembling motor vehicles, which permits design of final assembly of motor vehicles so that it is as flexible as possible in terms of space. A central elongated assembly hall is provided in which essentially automated assembly regions are provided and finger-like partial regions having essentially manual workplaces are provided projecting at a right angle from the longitudinal side. A change in the sequence in the manual regions can be accomplished easily by an extension of the finger-like partial regions at the head end.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Werner Fenzl, Gerd Schlage, Jan Knau