Engaging Element Moves Load Horizontally In A Straight Line Patents (Class 198/468.9)
  • Patent number: 10535442
    Abstract: The test elements are provided that are adapted to detect at least one analyte in a sample. At least some of the test elements are provided with a defect marking which contains information about defectiveness of the test elements. The test elements include at least one radiation-sensitive material. The test elements are exposed to at least one radiation, the radiation being adapted to induce marking in the form of at least one optically detectable change in the radiation-sensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ROCHE DIABETES CARE, INC.
    Inventors: Josef K. Roper, Werner Finke, Martin Frank, Gunter Schmidt, Siegfried Dick, Peter Stubenbord
  • Patent number: 10486916
    Abstract: An article supplying device is provided. The article supplying device has a conveyance portion for conveying conveyed objects, and a movable block. The movable block includes a housing portion capable of housing one conveyed object at a receiving position in which the housing portion communicates with a downstream end of the conveyance portion. The movable block is capable of a reciprocal movement in a direction intersecting a receiving direction of the conveyed objects. Moreover, the movable block includes a biting preventing portion for pushing back a subsequent conveyed object entered into the housing portion after the conveyed object having been housed in the housing portion toward the conveyance portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: KURASHIKI BOSEKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakajima, Hideaki Hikawa
  • Patent number: 10435249
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a workpiece pressing member and a switching member. The workpiece pressing member is able to move along a conveyance path when a mobile body moves, and also moves a workpiece downstream of the conveyance path by moving downstream of the conveyance path while pressing the workpiece. The switching member is able to move along the conveyance path as the mobile body moves, and switches between an engaged state and a non-engaged state with the workpiece pressing member depending on whether the movement is in downstream and upstream directions. When the switching member moves downstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to press the workpiece, and, when the switching member moves upstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to avoid coming into contact with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 10113621
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ball screw according to the present invention includes a seal fixing step of fixing a ring shaped seal to an attachment portion disposed in an end portion of a nut of a ball screw in an axis direction using a fixing member. The attachment portion has an inner circumferential surface having a diameter larger than that of an inner circumferential surface on which a spiral groove of the nut is formed. A through hole is formed in the attachment portion, the through hole penetrating the attachment portion in a radial direction from an outer circumferential surface thereof to the inner circumferential surface thereof. The seal fixing step includes passing the screw through the through hole and engaging the screw with an outer circumferential portion of the ring shaped seal to exert an outward-directed force in the radial direction on the ring shaped seal because of a force of the head pressing the bearing face to fix the ring shaped seal to the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 9016461
    Abstract: A workpiece-separating device includes a rotating assembly, a moving assembly, and a driver. The rotating assembly includes a limiting board and a rotating shaft, wherein the limiting board defines a through groove, and the rotating shaft defines a plurality of grooves. A distance between two adjacent grooves changes along a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft. The moving assembly includes a number of first moving blocks for mounting workpieces. Each first moving block is slidably mounted in the through groove and a corresponding groove. The driver drives the rotating shaft to rotate, allowing the first moving blocks to move along the grooves and the through groove to separate the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Mao-Yi Yin, Jian-Ping Jin, Bing Yu
  • Patent number: 9004260
    Abstract: A feeding device is used for hanging a workpiece on a fixture. The fixture includes two elastic portions. The feeding device includes a base for carrying the workpiece, a mounting seat, a driving member for driving the mounting seat, a guiding assembly, and a driving mechanism mounted on the mounting seat and connected to the guiding assembly for driving the guiding assembly. The guiding assembly passes through the base, and includes first and second guiding members. The driving member is capable of driving the first and second guiding members in the workpiece. The driving mechanism is capable of driving the first and second guiding members move away from each other to a position adjacent the inner walls of the workpiece, and the elastic portions resist against the inner walls of the workpiece, such that the workpiece is hung on the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bing Li, Bo Yang
  • Publication number: 20140262687
    Abstract: A shuttle system includes a shuttle which has no onboard power to drive the shuttle nor to drive a conveyor carried by said shuttle. The shuttle is moved by a first drive element which is driven by a remotely located mechanical power source. The conveyor is connected to a second drive element and is selectively actuated driving said second drive element such that there is a speed difference between the second drive element and the first drive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventor: John J. Kilper
  • Publication number: 20140202832
    Abstract: A material transfer device is configured for transferring a number of molded products. The material transfer device includes a control box and a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism includes a receiving chamber, a driving device, and a supporting structure. The receiving chamber is located on the control box. The driving device is located on a side surface of the receiving chamber and extends into the receiving chamber. The supporting structure includes a holder, a rotating portion, and a number of supporting plates. The holder is located on the driving device to be driven thereby to move along the receiving chamber. The rotating portion is fixed on the holder. The supporting plates are fixed on the rotating portion. The rotating portion drives the supporting plates to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: MING-LUNG GUO
  • Patent number: 8757362
    Abstract: A conveyor system that transports a plurality of pallets includes: at least two driving devices that each have an engaging portion to be engaged with the pallet located at an upstream-side end portion in a pallet transport direction and that moves the engaging portion in a state where the engaging portion is engaged with the pallet to thereby simultaneously push the plurality of pallets; and a transport portion on which the plurality of pallets are mounted and that is able to transport the plurality of pallets pushed by the driving devices. The conveyor system is configured to transport the plurality of pallets at a constant speed by engaging the engaging portion of one of the driving devices with the pallet and causing the one of the driving devices to start pushing the plurality of pallets by the time when another one of the driving devices completes pushing the plurality of pallets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Shinmei Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Ono, Mitsuhiro Harada, Taiki Murao
  • Patent number: 8708137
    Abstract: The object is to provide an article transporting device in which dust generation can be prevented and in which it is hard for the operator at the operator's transfer location to be injured. The device comprises a reciprocating movable body configured to move in a forward and backward directions on a travel path extending between an operator's transfer location P and a non-operator's transfer location Q, a cover body 22 which partially covers an area above the reciprocating movable body which travels over an entire length of the travel path, an article support 20 connected to the reciprocating movable body by a connecting portion which extends upwardly from the reciprocating movable body and vertically through the slit 24 provided to the cover body, the article support being configured to move above the cover body along a direction of the travel path. The slit is formed such that the connecting portion remains out of contact with the cover body, when the reciprocating movable body moves along the travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshioka, Shigeharu Tanii
  • Publication number: 20140061003
    Abstract: A work transfer device is capable of moving a carriage in any direction and easily changes processes even with a simple configuration. The work transfer device includes a frame having a slit in a transfer direction, a ribbon body stored in the frame such that an upper portion is guided by the slit, a carriage coupling part connected to an upper end of the ribbon body and protruding from an upper side of the frame, a driving part feeding power to move the ribbon body in the transfer direction, and a tool carriage, which has a support part supporting a work W and has a coupling part coupled to the carriage coupling part, travelling on the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Yasuo NAKAMURA, Norio Kito
  • Patent number: 8602204
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a base, a sliding mechanism and a bearing mechanism. The base includes a mounting plate and a fixed bracket fixed on the mounting plate. The sliding mechanism includes a bottom plate slidably mounted on the mounting plate, a mounting platform fixedly mounted upon the bottom plate, a conveying assembly and a driver. The conveying assembly includes a driving wheel, a driven member and a conveying belt sleeved on the driving wheel and the driven member. The driver is mounted on the bottom plate and connected with the driving wheel. The bearing mechanism is slidably mounted on the mounting platform, and fixed with the conveying belt. The driving wheel and the driven member are oppositely and rotatably mounted on the bottom plate, the fixed bracket is positioned adjacent to the driven member and fixed with the conveying belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Yong Zhang, Bing Li
  • Patent number: 8590482
    Abstract: A traveling type dipping apparatus in a painting system of a vehicle body of an automobile, usable as mechanism to rotate and dip the vehicle body having been supported on a conveying traveling body horizontally in a forward facing direction in a treatment liquid while conveying the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishihara, Hirohito Takeichi
  • Patent number: 8474599
    Abstract: An automatic machining system having one or more pallets each mounted with respect to a moveable bed, for transporting one or more workpieces to and/or from an automated machine tool, for machining each workpiece. According to this invention, a driver shaft and a driven shaft can be longitudinally aligned with respect to each other, so that there is no need for a gear system and/or a transmission device, for transferring power from a driver shaft to the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Midaco Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm E. Keith, Michael Paul Cayley, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20130087431
    Abstract: A device for pushing glass objects onto a conveyor belt consists of a pusher (5), which is supported on a crank arm (6) in such a way that it can be swiveled about an axis (7), which crank arm is in driving engagement with a first electric motor (1) by means of a shaft (12) and a spur-gear transmission. A second electric motor (2) is in driving engagement with a sleeve (20) by means of a cantilever (18), in which sleeve the shaft (12) is mounted, wherein the shaft (12) can be swiveled about a central stationary axis (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Heye International GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Felgenhauer, Matthias Hubner
  • Patent number: 8393290
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and associated methods for applying a surface treatment to a part and curing the surface treatment without reorienting the part in the process. The systems include a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a system for applying a surface treatment, such as a powder coating application system, and a system for curing the surface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Marlon E. Homquist
  • Patent number: 8261905
    Abstract: A drive rail includes a sealed interior cavity and an exterior drive surface that extends along a length of the drive rail. A first magnetic member is disposed within the interior cavity and adjacent to a surface of the interior cavity that is immediately opposite the exterior drive surface. A drive mechanism is disposed within the interior cavity and in connection with the first magnetic member, and is configured to move the first magnetic member within the interior cavity along the length of the drive rail, such that the first magnetic member remains immediately opposite the exterior drive surface. The first magnetic member is configured to magnetically couple through the exterior drive surface to a wafer carrier disposed adjacent to the exterior drive surface. Movement of the first magnetic member within the interior cavity along the drive rail causes corresponding movement of the wafer carrier along the exterior drive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold Kholodenko, Anwar Husain, George Khait
  • Patent number: 8230989
    Abstract: A shuttle machine for transporting work pieces for a sealing press or other machine tool is disclosed. It has two conveyers for transporting work pieces. The two conveyers are supported by a frame to move back and forth in opposite directions. When the two conveyers are in a first position, a second section of the first conveyer and a first section of the second conveyer are located near the tool, while the first second of the first conveyer and the second section of the section conveyer are accessible to first and second operators, respectively. Both operators can unload and reload work pieces simultaneously while the tool operates on the already loaded work pieces. When the conveyers are moved to a second position, the sections previously operated on are accessible for unloading and reloading, and the sections just loaded are operated on. A related operating method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Nazari
  • Patent number: 8132662
    Abstract: A conveyor includes a support base, a linear driving mechanism mounted on the support base, a carrier, and a linkage bar mechanism pivotally connecting the carrier and the linear driving mechanism. The linear driving mechanism includes two substantially parallel threaded rods, two threaded members respectively engaging the two threaded rods, two actuators respectively rotating the two threaded rods, and two slide members slidable relative to the support base and respectively secured to the two threaded members. The linkage bar mechanism includes a first, second, and third bars pivotally connected to the slide member and the carrier, respectively. The first bar, the third bar, the slide member carrying the first bar, and the carrier cooperatively form a parallel four-bar mechanism. The first bar, the second bar, the slide member carrying the second bar, and the carrier cooperatively form a trapezoidal four-bar mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8117694
    Abstract: A table drive system comprising a first drive assembly configured for moving a support table in a first direction, a second drive assembly configured for moving the support table in a second direction, a third drive assembly configured for moving the support table in a third direction and a first drive motor coupled to the first drive assembly, the second drive assembly and the third drive assembly is provided. The first drive motor is configured to drive the first drive assembly, the second drive assembly and the third drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Asghar Ali Farooqui
  • Patent number: 8066468
    Abstract: The invention relates to collecting and conveying devices for stacks of sheets (3), comprising a collecting station (1) in which a corresponding number of sheet stacks (3) are formed simultaneously from several imbricated flows (2) of sheets which are guided adjacent to each other, a transversal transporter (4) which is arranged at a distance behind the collecting station (1) for transporting the finished stack of sheets (3) in a manner transversal to the direction of transport of the sheets in the collecting station (1) and a transfer device (5) which is used to transport the stack of sheets (3) from the collecting station (1) to the transversal transporter (4). According to the invention, a carriage (9) that can be displaced over a given path in a manner that is synchronous with the transversal support (4) is arranged adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hansjoerg Klein, Axel Meyer
  • Patent number: 8056702
    Abstract: There is equipped with a forward and reverse winder (31), a forwardly winding liner body (51), a reversely winding liner body (61) and a reciprocating body (71). The forwardly winding linear body (51) and the reversely winding linear body (61) are connected to the reciprocating body (71). The amounts of winding and rewinding the forwardly and reversely winding linear bodies (51) (61) by the winding drum (37) of the forward and reverse winder are equal to each other. The winding drum (37) of the forward and reverse winder (51) when the forwardly winding linear body (51) is forwardly wound axially moves corresponding to the winding and rewinding pitches of the linear bodies whereby a high precision based on a quiet stabilization of an operation state, durability and miniaturization of construction and a high precision based on proper winding and rewinding of the linear bodies and durability can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: SK Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sumio Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8051972
    Abstract: The present invention is a conveyor using a non-uniform pulsating movement created by multiple interactions between a solenoid and switch to move parts along a transporting tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph J LaRosa
  • Patent number: 8051973
    Abstract: A device for transferring objects from a printing machine chuck to a support and distancing pin, the chuck and the pin being moved on two independent paths, at a point of which paths they are parallel to one another and at a predetermined reciprocal distance, the device comprising a carriage which is mobile in a parallel direction to the chuck and to the pin, between a distant position from the chuck and the pin to a close position to the chuck and the pin, means for gripping and releasing the objects being provided on the carriage, which means for gripping and releasing are mobile along a trajectory in a perpendicular plane to the carriage in order to be placed alternatively in front of the chuck and the pin, the trajectory including at least a tract in which it is parallel to the path of the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Decomac-Societa' a Responsabilita' Limitata
    Inventors: Milo Campioli, Vittorio Ferrari
  • Patent number: 8047353
    Abstract: A conveyor comprising an endless accumulation chain and at least two sets of devices for effecting incremental movements of the chain at respective stations. Each set of devices includes a first device for engaging and disengaging respectively the chain, a second device engaged to the first device for moving it from a first position to a second position while it is engaged to the chain for effecting an incremental movement of a portion of the chain and for retracting the first device to the first position while the first device is disengaged from the chain, and a third device for engaging the chain to lock the chain portion in a fixed position while the first device is disengaged from the chain and for disengaging from the chain when the first device is engaged to the chain portion so that the first device may be moved to the second position for incrementally moving the chain portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Ronald L. Plesh, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8028818
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transporting a transportation rack (12) through a conveyor-type dishwasher which has a plurality of treatment zones by means of transportation catches (10) which are accommodated on transportation rails (5, 6). The transportation catches (10) transport transportation racks (12) in the conveying direction (1.1), with the transportation rails (5, 6) being driven by means of a rotary shaft (3). The transportation catches (10) pivot (11) about a shaft (8), which runs parallel to the conveying direction (1.1), during a forward stroke (VH) of the transportation rails (5, 6) and during the return stroke (RH) of said transportation rails. The invention also relates to a conveyor-type dishwasher comprising transportation rails (5, 6) on which transportation catches (10) are held. The transportation catches (10) are mounted such that they can pivot on shafts (8) which are oriented parallel to the conveying direction (1.1) of the transportation rack (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: MEIKO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Kupetz, Engelbert Ecker
  • Patent number: 7954624
    Abstract: A shuttle-type conveying system to convey an article. The system includes a feeding and collecting device capable of setting a cassette in which articles to be conveyed are stacked as they are on a rotating and feeding table, a pickup device taking out the article and placing it on a receiving/delivery table, and a conveying device feeding the article on the receiving/delivery table to another receiving/delivery table by a shuttle conveying portion traveling on conveying paths below the receiving/delivery table. After the article is lifted up by the shuttle conveying portion and moved to outside the receiving/delivery table, the article is lowered below the receiving/delivery table and made to travel under the receiving/delivery table to another receiving/delivery table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Rorze Corporation, Is Technology Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukito Yamasaki, Teruyoshi Munakata
  • Patent number: 7938249
    Abstract: A shuttle machine for transporting work pieces for a sealing press or other machine tool is disclosed. It has two conveyers for transporting work pieces. The two conveyers are supported by a frame to move back and forth in opposite directions. When the two conveyers are in a first position, a second section of the first conveyer and a first section of the second conveyer are located near the tool, while the first second of the first conveyer and the second section of the section conveyer are accessible to first and second operators, respectively. Both operators can unload and reload work pieces simultaneously while the tool operates on the already loaded work pieces. When the conveyers are moved to a second position, the sections previously operated on are accessible for unloading and reloading, and the sections just loaded are operated on. A related operating method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Winterborne, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Nazari
  • Patent number: 7861850
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes: a stage section having: a feeding stage on which a work to be fed is placed; a first working stage on which the work is subjected to a working process; a second working stage on which the work is subjected to the same working process as that of the first working stage; and a discharging stage on which the work to be discharged is placed; and a conveyance section having: a feeding arm feeding the work from the feeding stage to the working stages; a discharging arm which is provided on a discharging stage side of the feeding arm and discharges the work from the working stages to the discharging stage; a first drive unit moving the two arms in an alignment direction of the four stages; and a second drive unit changing distance between the two arms in the alignment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Sei Musha, Emiko Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7735632
    Abstract: A system and method for mounting the strip seal on the side of a pass-through positioning stage. The strip seal can effectively provide support to a cover of the stage and be magnetically coupled to the cover and base for an enhanced seal and added support. Accordingly, the tendency for the stage to sag and vibrate during operation is mitigated. Moreover, a side-mounted strip seal is exposed to a reduced amount of debris that accumulates on the top of a stag, and thus is less susceptible to contaminants entering the interior of the stage. As such, and in connection with a variety of other means for reducing contamination, the stage can operate for longer periods of time without wear and/or maintenance, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Anorad Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Garlow, Alfred Santacapita
  • Patent number: 7654382
    Abstract: A table drive system comprising a first drive assembly configured for moving a support table in a first direction, a second drive assembly configured for moving the support table in a second direction and a drive motor coupled to the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly is provided. The drive motor is configured to drive the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: Asghar Ali Farooqui
  • Patent number: 7631749
    Abstract: A table drive system for driving a support table is disclosed herein. The table drive system comprises at least one of a first drive assembly or a second drive assembly or a combination thereof. The first drive assembly is configured for moving the support table in a first direction for example, a longitudinal direction and the second drive assembly is configured for moving the support table in a second direction for example, a vertical direction. The table drive system further includes a safety block in combination with at least one of the first drive assembly or the second drive assembly, the safety block configured to arrest the motion of the first drive assembly or the second drive assembly upon experiencing a predetermined condition such as the failure of at least one of the first drive assembly or the second drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Baskar Somasundaram, Bernard Bouvier, Shaji Alakkat, Mukund Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 7578383
    Abstract: A specimen transport system for transporting a specimen, includes, a preceding section, a succeeding section located apart from the preceding section, a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism attached to the preceding section and/or the succeeding section and configured to transport a rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen, and a car configured to travel between the preceding section and the succeeding section and provided with a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism configured to transport the rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: IDS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruaki Itoh
  • Publication number: 20090026043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a positioning element for positioning food products advancing by means of a conveyor. The invention also relates to an apparatus for positioning food products, comprising such a positioning element in combination with a conveyor. The invention finally also relates to a method for positioning food products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Josephus Maria Manders
  • Patent number: 7428958
    Abstract: A substrate conveyor apparatus carries a substrate such as reticle. A substrate conveyance method and an exposure apparatus reliably adhere a substrate to the lower surface of a chuck. A movable stage can move in the horizontal direction and is equipped with a chuck having an adhesion surface that faces down for adhering a substrate. An up-down means equipped with an up-down table is positionable in a position below the substrate and within the movement range of the movable stage, and a conveyance means equipped with a conveyor arm carries the substrate to the up-down means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7383939
    Abstract: A device (10) is provided for handling workpieces, in particular vehicle chassis (22) of modular construction, and having a first module with a handling line (12) in turn having one or several handling regions (14) for surface handling of the workpieces (22), and a guide device (44) along the handling line (12). A second module has one or several carriages (20b) to which the workpieces (22) may be fixed and moved along the guide device (44). Various types of second module may be combined with the first module to achieve various configurations of the whole device (10) with regard to throughput and flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Durr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Kreuzer, Manfred Fottinger
  • Patent number: 7347313
    Abstract: To equally space items along a first path, a predetermined number of items is moved towards each other to minimize distances between the items, and a gear mechanism is engaged with each item. The gear mechanism includes crossed bars, wherein pairs of the bars are coupled at middle joints so that each pair of bars forms an X-shaped structure and opposite ends of an X-shaped structure are coupled at end joints to respective ends of neighboring X-shaped structures. The gear mechanism is activated so that the gear mechanism acts upon each item and moves each item along the first path a predetermined distance to equally space the items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventor: Peter Berdelle-Hilge
  • Patent number: 7304260
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for automatically transporting receiving containers for sorted products. The containers are filled with the sorted products along a sorting stretch at individual, similar target stations, and automatically transported by means of a transport device after being filled. A full receiving container for sorted products is thus lowered, after a transport command has been triggered, by means of a transport device beneath a target station. The container is then placed on the transport device, if the device is not already occupied by a receiving container. The receiving container is then transported away from the target station by means of the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Boller, Wilhelm Maler
  • Patent number: 7299912
    Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting a work piece from a beginning point to an end point in a longitudinal direction with at least one process step applied in between to such work piece is provided according to the invention. The work piece is propelled in the longitudinal direction over a combination of grooved rollers and conveyor belt units in series. Grooved guide means with, e.g., V, U, or square shapes that are machined into the surface of the rollers prevent the work piece from moving laterally as it is transported in the longitudinal direction, and maintain precise spacing between a plurality of work piece strands undergoing simultaneous transport by the conveyor system. The conveyor belt unit located between the grooved rollers inhibits rotation of the work piece as it is transported in the longitudinal direction. This conveyor system is good for treating the entire exterior surface area of the work piece in a uniform manner, such as coating the surface of rebar, dowel bar, hollow tube, or pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Midwest Pipe Coating, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy L. Van Kley
  • Patent number: 7210221
    Abstract: A base plate and load beam for an HG assembly are formed in series, stacked, and transferred by a transfer system in the form of the stacked-layer series to undergo the necessary assembly processes such as layer joining, slider attachment, and electrical connections between the terminals thereon. When uncompleted HG assemblies are transferred for each of the manufacturing processes, the uncompleted HG assembly is mounted on the assembly jig such as a tray or a block for transference. For this reason, assembling jigs, the number of which is at least equal to the number of the uncompleted HG assemblies remaining at the respective assembly processes would be needed. Accordingly, the efficiency of work space is reduced, and a rise in manufacturing cost is brought about by the need for the assembling jigs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Takao Kidachi, Tadaaki Tomiyama, Yoshio Uematsu, Hiromi Ishikawa Ishikawa, Tatsushi Yoshida, Hiroyoshi Yokome, Yukihiro Nakamura, Hisashi Ohyama, Tatsumi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7168553
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a substrate loading station is served by a conveyor which continuously transports substrate carriers. A substrate carrier handler that is part of the substrate loading station operates to exchange substrate carriers with the conveyor while the conveyor is in motion. A carrier exchange procedure may include moving an end effector of the substrate carrier handler at a velocity that substantially matches a velocity of the conveyor. A balancing mass is coupled directly or indirectly to a frame on which the substrate carrier handler is mounted and is adapted to accelerate in a direction opposite to the direction of end effector acceleration, as the end effector accelerates. Thus, inertial loads may be substantially balanced, and frame vibration reduced, despite potentially high rates of acceleration. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Eric A. Englhardt, Robert B. Lowrance, Martin R. Elliott, Jeffrey C. Hudgens
  • Patent number: 7163038
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for end squaring and/or dividing elongated materials by determining an actual orientation of the elongated material, or an actual position of an associated pair of positioning mechanisms that are contactable with the elongated material, and changing the actual orientation to correspond with a desired orientation through independent movement of the positioning mechanisms prior to or during the end squaring and/or dividing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Globe Machine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert T. Rhodes, Thomas M. Scott, Clifford P. Isaman, Otto M. Allison, Calvin D. Bamford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7150598
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for handling pallets, such as for inspection and sorting, are disclosed. In a disclosed embodiment, an up-ender includes a support frame, a pallet-tilting mechanism coupled in a pivotal manner to the frame, and first and second generally upright pusher arms coupled to the frame. The pallet-tilting mechanism is pivotable between an up position and a down position, such that when the pallet-tilting mechanism is in the up position, an upright stack of pallets can be loaded onto the pallet-tilting mechanism and when pivoted to the down position, the stack is rotated about 90° so that the pallets become generally vertically oriented. The pallet-tilting mechanism also is adapted to displace the stack of vertically oriented pallets along a support surface. The pusher arms are positioned to receive the stack of pallets from the pallet-tilting mechanism and automatically index the pallets in the stack along the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventors: John S. Smets, Robert D. Smets
  • Patent number: 7134541
    Abstract: A conveyance truck movable along travel rails includes a suspended supporting device for supporting a vehicle body, a raising and lowering device for raising and lowering the suspended supporting device, and a posture adjusting device for adjusting the posture of the vehicle body. The raising and lowering device includes a first supporting axle disposed in the front section in the travel direction, a second supporting axle provided in the rear section movable towards and away from the first supporting axle, a crank arm supported rotatably on the second supporting axle and having the suspended supporting device supported rotatably at its free end portion, a swinging arm fixed to the first supporting axle and having a free end portion coupled to an intermediate position of the crank arm, and an arm drive mechanism for causing the crank arm to rotate about the second supporting axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignees: Taikisha Ltd., Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Izuru Matsubara, Hisashi Kyotani
  • Patent number: 7128199
    Abstract: A hooked dust scraper for ball screw unit includes a plurality of tooth portions and corresponding number of hook portions. It is characterized that the scraper is hooked on the nut of the ball screw unit without employing screw engagement so that the ball screw unit associated with this scraper is easy to fabricate, assemble, and detach thereby saving the production and assembly cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: HIWIN Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chuang-Pao Yang, Yan-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 7097023
    Abstract: A finished product receiving unit used in a corrugated metal sheet member making machine for receiving finished products is disclosed to include a rack, rollers arranged in the rack for receiving finished products, two drag rods longitudinally arranged in parallel, links respectively coupled between the drag rods and the rollers, and two air cylinders controlled to move the drag rods and to further shift the rollers between the transverse direction to receive finished products and the longitudinal direction to let received finished products fall to the collection place at the bottom side of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventor: Chun-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 6983837
    Abstract: A finished product receiving unit used in a corrugated metal sheet member making machine for receiving finished products is disclosed to include a rack, two pivot shafts arranged in parallel two sides in the rack, two elongated finished product carrier frames respectively fastened to the pivot shafts and holding a number of rollers for receiving finished products from the corrugated metal sheet member making machine, and two air cylinders bilaterally mounted in the top side of the rack and respectively coupled to the pivot shafts through a respective link and controlled to bias the pivot shafts and to further move the elongated finished product carrier frames between the operative position for receiving finished products from the corrugated metal sheet member making machine and the non-operative position for enabling received finished products to fall to the bottom side of the rack for further collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventor: Chun-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 6962251
    Abstract: A finished product receiving system is disclosed to include an elongated rack body with rollers, terminals arranged in parallel at one lateral side of the rack body, a driving rod, a plurality of links coupled between the driving rod and the rollers, a master air cylinder controlled to move the driving rod to further force the links to bias the rollers of the elongated rack body between the operative position for receiving finished metal sheet members from a metal sheet member processing machine and the non-operative position for enabling received finished metal sheet members to fall to the terminals, and auxiliary air cylinders respectively installed in the terminals and controlled to move a respective piston rod between the extended position for receiving finished metal sheet members from the rollers of the rack body and the received position for moving collected finished metal sheet members from the front side of the terminals to the rear side for further delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Sen-Jung Chuang
  • Patent number: 6942087
    Abstract: The conveyor system (11) is used for transferring rows or large cycles (66) of sheet stacks (12) from the stacking station (20) of a paper converting machine, e.g. a small format cross-cutter to several parallel-running discharge conveyor belts (24, 25). For this purpose grippers or tongs (48) are provided, which are guided on gripper supports (39) and which can draw the stacks (12) from stacking station (20) via conveyor belts (24, 25). For each stacking position (21) there are two grippers (48, 48a), which in each case alternatively grip and transfer a stack, whilst the other gripper performs the return movement and passes into its waiting position upstream of the stacking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Axel Meyer
  • Patent number: 6915895
    Abstract: An air conveyer receives an uppermost container group elevated by a lift device and transporting the container group horizontally. A pushing device is provided for pushing the uppermost container group onto the adjacent airflow conveyer by contacting the container group at one side thereof and moving horizontally toward the other side. A forward-fall preventive device is provided to be switchable between a closed state for lying forwardly in a pushing direction of the container group, as the pushing device moves horizontally, to be capable of preventing a forward fall of containers, and an open state for opening a forward position in the pushing direction of the container group when the container group rides the airflow conveyer to enable a discharge of the container group. A speed varying mechanism is provided for varying a relative speed between a transport speed of the airflow conveyer and a pushing speed of the pushing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Shunji Morikazu, Kenju Nagaoka, Shinji Konishi