Wherein The Conveyor Portion Moves In A Closed Path In The Horizontal Plane Only Patents (Class 198/465.2)
  • Patent number: 6419076
    Abstract: A discharge device which, in a retainer type continuous-filling packaging system, extracts full bags (bags filled with contents) from retainers that are continuously fed at a constant speed and discharges these full bags after converting the movement of the bags into an intermittent movement of a plurality of rows. The discharge device includes a full-bag holding member conveying device and a product-conveying conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Toya Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 6415905
    Abstract: The transport device serves to horizontally convey workpieces and has a plurality of plate elements, which are plug connected onto a vertically aligned tooth belt and are guided by it along an endless path. Each plate element is separately connected to the tooth belt and separately replaceable. The transport device ensures extremely precise positioning of the plate elements at the processing stations for the workpieces in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: BRECO Antriebstechnik Breher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Friedrich Sundermeier, Martin Heinz
  • Patent number: 6412622
    Abstract: Workpieces in the shape of plates can be transported from an input station to a workstation and from there to an output station by means of two manipulation device in a working plane. A gripper of one of the manipulation means can be displaced between the input station and the workstation. The gripper of the other manipulation device can be displaced between the workstation and the output station, whereby the displacement ranges overlap. As the first half of the processing time has been approximately completed in the workstation, the workpiece r is transferred from the gripper on the input side to the gripper on the output side. Meanwhile, the respectively free gripper returns to its station and to the workstation, so that the processing can be carried out almost without any interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Jung, Birgit Haase, Daniel Metz, Stefan Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20020000362
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing system comprising a plurality of cell conveyers being supplied with a variety of pallets and products through an input section thereof, on which the products are firstly assembled; a main conveyer whereto the firstly assembled products are conveyed from said cell conveyers in a state that the firstly assembled products are loaded on the pallet, on which the products are finally assembled; and a return conveyer for returning the pallets to the input section of the cell conveyers after assembly process of the product is completed on the main conveyer. The pallets are supplied into the input section of the cell conveyers and then returned to the input section of the cell conveyers through the main conveyer and the return conveyer. The variety of products are firstly assembled on the cell conveyers respectively and then conveyed to the main conveyer to be finally assembled. The variety of products are output through an output section of the main conveyer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: JONG-CHUL GO, KI-BUM KIM, SONG-WOO CHEON
  • Patent number: 6334523
    Abstract: A component conveyor which can spend sufficient time for picking and placing operation has low energy consumption, and the moving speed of the head is fast. In order to pick and place a component P, there are provided several movable heads 6 to 9, movable along a closed path, magnets 15a2 to 15d2 and coils 14a to 14d, both of which stop the head at the picking position and the placing position, and magnets 16a to 16d which transfer the kinetic energy of the moving head to the stopped head at the picking position or the placement position. By applying the initial velocity in the progress direction to at least one head, the kinetic energy is sequentially transmitted to the following head. A moving head is made to stop at a position of the preceding head. Thus, the kinetic energy of the moving head is transmitted to the stopped head. By using the repulsion effect, moving and stopping of the head is efficiently performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 6325199
    Abstract: A pallet conveyor apparatus for moving pallets, which carry components of a dynamo-electric machine, along and between routes of a manufacturing line is provided. The pallet conveyor apparatus includes a plurality of pallets, at least one substantially horizontal rail structure, at least one loop-shaped conveyor belt, and a drive for causing the conveyor belt to move along an upper track of the rail structure. The conveyor apparatus may be driven with a drive cartridge that fits within the rail structure. A pallet for use with the apparatus has a platform and a seat portion. The platform has an upper surface that supports the component. The seat portion has a substantially inverted “U” shape. The seat portion of the rail structure has a central surface and two opposing surfaces. The dimensions of the seat portion and the rail structure are such that when the seat portion fits over the rail structure a pallet will be prevented from falling off the rail structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Axis USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Raffaele Becherucci, Gianfranco Stratico, Vieri Ancillotti
  • Publication number: 20010042674
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying coiler cans, includes a first conveyor track having an outlet end; a first conveying device for moving the coiler cans on and along the first conveyor track; a second conveyor track having an inlet end and being arranged at generally right angles to the first conveyor track; a second conveying device for moving the coiler cans on and along the second conveyor track; a first drive for operating the first and second conveying devices; a separate transfer device for moving a coiler can from the outlet end of the first conveyor track into the inlet end of the second conveyor track; and a second drive for operating the transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: HELMUT BUNGTER
  • Patent number: 6305527
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying coiler cans, includes a first conveyor track having an outlet end; a first conveying device for moving the coiler cans on and along the first conveyor track; a second conveyor track having an inlet end and being arranged at generally right angles to the first conveyor track; a second conveying device for moving the coiler cans on and along the second conveyor track; a first drive for operating the first and second conveying devices; a separate transfer device for moving a coiler can from the outlet end of the first conveyor track into the inlet end of the second conveyor track; and a second drive for operating the transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Helmut Bungter
  • Patent number: 6293387
    Abstract: A carrier for orienting and conveying things to be transported includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side periphery, and a second side periphery. The bottom surface is intersected by a traverse slot which is upwardly communicative with a traverse through bore. Either of the first side periphery or the top surface provides a transport section adapted to receive and convey the thing to be transported, and the second side periphery provides a drive control section suited to engage a drive mechanism. The body may include a hold lip, detent, or other structure cooperative with the first side periphery or top surface to contact, receive, and convey the thing to be transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Hugh H. Forster
  • Patent number: 6279724
    Abstract: An automated semiconductor processing system has an indexer bay perpendicularly aligned with a process bay within a clean air enclosure. An indexer in the indexer bay provides stocking or storage for work in progress semiconductor wafers. Process chambers are located in the process bay. A process robot moves between the indexer bay and process bay to carry semi-conductor wafers to and from the process chambers. The process robot has a robot arm vertically moveable along a lift rail. Semiconductor wafers are carried offset from the robot arm, to better avoid contamination. The automated system is compact and requires less clean room floor space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Semitoll Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffry A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20010011629
    Abstract: A device for carrying out a sequence of working steps on travelling work station wagons comprising an oval track wherein said work station wagons are circulating, wherein said wagons comprise at least one detachable connection element connected to a circulating chain which moves said wagons; at least one insertion and at least one removal guide track is provided on the outside of said oval track, wherein said at least one insertion and at least one removal guide track comprises a transfer point to which the chain is allocated; at least one coupling element is further provided at each transfer point via which the wagons may be coupled into the guide tracks on the side opposite of the side of said wagons comprising at least one detachable element, with at least one switchable points element located on said guide track, which during the insertion position, release said at least one coupling element and bring about the engagement of said detachable connection element to said chain or during the removal position,
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: BERND WILLING
  • Patent number: 6223886
    Abstract: A system for transporting articles. The transport system includes a conveyor system which includes a transport device for carrying articles between workstations and a drive rail and a support rail for supporting the transport device. The drive rail includes a drive system for propelling the transport device between workstations. At least one shoe carried by the transport device rides on the support rail for movably supporting the transport device on the support rail. The transport system also includes a protective container including a housing having an interior compartment for supporting a plurality of articles. The bottom surface of the housing is configured to engage the drive system such that actuation of the drive system propels the housing along the drive and support rails. At least one shoe carried by the housing is configured to ride on the support rail of the conveyor system to movably support the housing on the support rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony C. Bonora, Richard H. Gould
  • Patent number: 6202829
    Abstract: The conveyor system for clinical test apparatus includes a main transport conveyor and a plurality of auxiliary conveyors located alongside the main transport conveyor. The auxiliary conveyors define straight line paths of travel parallel to the straight line paths of travel of the main conveyor. Each of the auxiliary conveyors is operated by drive means separate from the main transport conveyor. Two crossover points are provided between the main transport conveyor and the auxiliary conveyor. One crossover point is an entrance from the main transport conveyor to the auxiliary conveyor and the other crossover point is an exit from the auxiliary conveyor to the main transport conveyor. Each crossover point is controlled by a gate. One of the gates is a divert gate which can be actuated to block the main transport path thereby diverting puck traffic onto the auxiliary conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Bingham Hood van Dyke, Jr., John Louis Barra, Thomas James Hatcher, Michael John Campanelli