One Of A Plurality Of Main Line Conveyors Selectively Moves To Connect With A Spaced Path Patents (Class 198/369.1)
  • Patent number: 6378198
    Abstract: A system for performing an operation for a circuit substrate, including a plurality of main conveyors each of which conveys, positions, and supports a circuit substrate, the plurality of main conveyors being arranged in a direction perpendicular to a circuit-substrate conveying direction in which the each main conveyor conveys the circuit substrate, an operation performing device which performs at least one operation for the circuit substrate positioned and supported by the each main conveyor, at least one of (a) a carry-in conveyor which conveys the circuit substrate to the each main conveyor and loads the circuit substrate thereon, and (b) a carry-out conveyor which loads the circuit substrate off the each main conveyor and conveys the circuit substrate away therefrom, and a conveyor shifting device which selectively shifts the at least one of the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor to one of a plurality of shift positions at each of which the one conveyor is aligned with a corresponding one of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Asai, Shinsuke Suhara, Hirokazu Ikegami
  • Patent number: 6370447
    Abstract: A communication master unit of a conveyance controller and communication slave units for a main conveyor, loading conveyors and unloading conveyors are connected by a serial transmission line to transmit and receive different kinds of data signals to and from motorized rollers for conveying items and their corresponding sensors by the packet-switching exchange system. Conveyance control can be executed by transmitting and receiving the different kinds of data signals via reduced number of wirings while connecting the master unit and the slave units corresponding to the respective conveyors by the serial transmission line in a conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kyowa Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6367609
    Abstract: This invention discloses a conveyor table, including a supporting construction having a first supporting surface for supporting articles to be conveyed, a plurality of conveyor elements mounted to the supporting construction and defining a second supporting surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed, an actuator for selectively moving one of the supporting surfaces with respect to the other to selectively enable either the first supporting surface defined by the supporting construction to support the articles, or the second supporting surface defined by the conveyor elements to support the articles, and a drive for driving the conveyor elements to convey the articles in a predetermined direction when the articles are supported by the second supporting surface defined by the conveyor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Orbotech Ltd.
    Inventors: Amiram Caspi, Zamir Halutz
  • Publication number: 20020020605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of changing the position of chains of sausages in sausage production processes with two endless conveying belts which convey the sausages of the chain of sausages over a first length in a first direction and which then deflect the chain of sausages into a second direction and convey it over a second length in said second direction, the distance between the conveying belts being chosen such that it is larger during transport in said second direction than during transport in said first direction. In addition, the present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the present invention and to the use of said method according to the present invention and of said apparatus according to the present invention for transferring a chain of sausages from a twist-off station to a suspension station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Gerhard Muller
  • Patent number: 6272737
    Abstract: A system for mounting circuit components on a circuit substrate, including a circuit-substrate supporting device which supports the circuit substrate, a circuit-component mounting device which mounts, at a circuit-component mounting position, the circuit components on the circuit substrate supported by the circuit-substrate supporting device, and a circuit-substrate carry-out device which carries out the circuit substrate on which the circuit components have been mounted, the circuit-substrate carry-out device comprising a removing device which removes the circuit substrate from the circuit-substrate supporting device, and a parallel-direction carry-out device which receives the circuit substrate from the removing device and carries out the circuit substrate in a parallel direction substantially parallel to a plane of the circuit substrate, the circuit substrate being transferred from the circuit-substrate supporting device to the removing device in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the plane o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Asai, Shinsuke Suhara
  • Patent number: 6244419
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved diverter for a flat article/mail handling system which diverter includes a conveyor for moving articles through the diverter. A mechanism is preferably provided for minimizing contact between a moving part of the conveyor and a stationary part of a diverter platen. This mechanism may, for example be a bearing surface on the platen in a contact region between a conveyor pinch roller and the platen and/or may be a recess formed in the platen in the regions thereof underlying the conveyor. The bearing may be slightly enlarged so as to raise the pinch roller a very small distance above the surface of the platen, eliminating the need for the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Federal Systems
    Inventor: Douglas A. Slocum
  • Patent number: 6223880
    Abstract: This invention discloses a conveyor table, including a supporting construction having a first supporting surface for supporting articles to be conveyed, a plurality of conveyor elements mounted to the supporting construction and defining a second supporting surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed, an actuator for selectively moving one of the supporting surfaces with respect to the other to selectively enable either the first supporting surface defined by the supporting construction to support the articles, or the second supporting surface defined by the conveyor elements to support the articles, and a drive for driving the conveyor elements to convey the articles in a predetermined direction when the articles are supported by the second supporting surface defined by the conveyor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Orbotech Ltd.
    Inventors: Amiram Caspi, Zamir Halutz
  • Patent number: 6220420
    Abstract: A semiconductor composition material conveyer module, which includes at least one horizontal conveyer unit and at least one vertical conveyer unit arranged with the at least one horizontal conveyer unit to form an automatic production line for conveying semiconductor composition material for processing. A displacement sensor is triggered when semiconductor composition material is delivered from the horizontal conveyer unit at one production line to the matched vertical conveyer unit, thereby causing the matched vertical conveyer unit to carry semiconductor composition material to a horizontal conveyer unit at a second production line for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Gallant Precision Machining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chalson Jan, Story Huang, Shin-Hsiung Lee
  • Patent number: 6217273
    Abstract: The present invention is an automated and integrated method and apparatus for packaging, loading, storing, and/or retrieving a specified product. A preferred embodiment of a system comprises a packager, a feeder device, a magazine, an unloading device, and a control unit. The packager is adapted to package a predetermined quantity of a product in a package. The feeder device has a loading screw which engages the package and transfers it to a storage screw in the magazine. The magazine preferably comprises multiple horizontal rows of storage screws. Each horizontal row of storage screws may be individually rotated about a central axis of the magazine. The control unit maintains a data base of the location and contents of each package in the magazine. The unloading device is adapted to retrieve a desired package from the magazine. The unloading device then transfers the desired package to a predetermined location such as a tote, bin, or patient specific drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Exper S.A.S. di Peroni G.&C.
    Inventors: Günther Peroni, Giuseppina Martelli
  • Patent number: 6213279
    Abstract: A machine is disclosed having a frame with a work station adapted to receive a work member, such as a die set. The apparatus includes a turntable pivotally mounted to the frame at a position spaced from the work station. A first and second linear conveyor section are mounted to the turntable and each section has a first end and a second end. The second ends of the conveyor sections are adjacent each other and the conveyor sections extend outwardly on the turntable in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other. An actuator selectively pivots the turntable between a first position in which the first end of the first conveyor section is aligned with the work station, and a second position in which the first end of the second conveyor section is aligned with the work station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Pilot Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Killingbeck, John M. Porter