Suction Patents (Class 198/689.1)
  • Patent number: 8550460
    Abstract: Printed products (10) are conveyed to a transfer portion (22) by means of the grippers (14) of the gripper conveyor (12). The vacuum belt conveyor (26) suctions with its active strand (28) the respective end region (32) of the printed products (10), after which, close to the end of the (34) of the transfer portion (22), the grippers (14) respectively release the printed products (10). The motional path (38) of the gripper jaws (16) runs in the transfer portion (22) in the shape of an arc. The active strand (28) of the vacuum belt conveyor (26) runs in the transfer portion (22) at an approximately constant distance to the motional path (38). In the case of large processing capacities and correspondingly high velocities, a reliably secure, positionally stable transfer of the printed products (10) from the gripper conveyor (12) to the vacuum belt conveyor (26) is thereby ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Claudio Berni
  • Publication number: 20130248330
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding articles advancing in a machine direction including a rotatable roll having a roll surface, at least one protrusion that defines an outermost surface of the roll and at least one pocket that defines an innermost surface of the roll. The apparatus also includes a first and second vacuum conveyor assembly, each comprising two vacuum conveyors. The roll and the vacuum conveyor assemblies are cooperatively configured to fold an article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Yoichiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8499924
    Abstract: A method and a system for stabilizing the sight line of a chip component being carried on two discs, for stabilizing delivery of the chip component between the two discs, and improving and stabilizing the inspection accuracy in the visual check of the chip component. This is achieved by employing a mechanism for carrying the chip component while supporting it on the horizontal plane of the first rotary disc and then carrying the chip component while suction-holding it on the vertical plane of the second rotary disc. When the chip component is carried on the first rotary disc, the upper surface and one side face of the chip component are imaged by first and second cameras. When the chip component is carried on the second rotary disc, the lower surface and the other side face of the chip component are imaged by third and fourth cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kobayashi, Toru Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8485347
    Abstract: An apparatus and an associated method comprise a receiving zone, for receiving solid material, a transferring zone, for transferring said solid material and optionally a releasing zone for releasing said solid material, e.g. to another moving surface and with a moving endless surface moving in and through said zones, said a moving endless surface has thereto a multitude of primary cavities and secondary cavities receiving said solid material, wherein said primary cavities are connectable and/or connected to said vacuum system of said transferring zone, and said secondary cavities are not connectable/connected to said vacuum system of said transferring zone, and wherein thus only said primary cavities transfer said solid material e.g. to said further moving surface; and wherein typically both primary and secondary cavities are connectable/connected to a vacuum system in said receiving zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Hans Adolf Jackels
  • Patent number: 8485348
    Abstract: A suction belt (1) for transporting tobacco in the manufacture of cigarettes has a fabric (5) comprising warp threads (6) and weft threads (7), the ends (2,3) of which suction belt are connected in a connecting region (4) to form a continuous suction belt (1). The weft threads (7) and/or the warp threads (6), at least in the connecting region (4), have a light-absorbing material (8). The continuous suction belt (1) is laser welded in the connecting region (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Max Schlatterer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Strobel, Frank Bez, Manfred Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130140143
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport apparatus (1), comprising an endless conveyor belt (2) which is drivable by drive means (3), of which conveyor belt (2) at least the outer side (4) is embodied in a material which can withstand irradiation by the infrared laser radiation used to cut flat, thin materials such as textile, non-woven, sandpaper, cardboard, plastic film material present on the active upper part of the conveyor belt (2) and carried along by this part. The invention further relates to a cutting device (20), comprising said transport apparatus (1). The invention also related to a method for cutting flat, thin materials such as textile, non-woven, sandpaper, cardboard, plastic film material. A good choice of such a material is Werkstoff “S”®.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: DE BRUIJNE DELDEN HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Frederik Marco De Bruijne, Edwin Begemann
  • Publication number: 20130126306
    Abstract: Bandoliers of pouches or separate pouches are carried by suction cups on a transfer wheel and operated to hold and release pouches through solenoid valves, each coupled to a respective cup. The solenoid valves are operated by a controller to release pouches from the respective cups at precise angular positions of the wheel to control the configuration of the bandolier in a package or tray. Embodiments provide lateral shifting or rotation of pouches held by the cups. Fold-leading or fold-trailing bandolier configurations are produced. Solenoid valves are disposed proximate cups at the wheel periphery or elsewhere and operably coupled to the cups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: DANIEL J. RACK, Frank G. Oliverio
  • Patent number: 8413794
    Abstract: This invention provides a vacuum belt media transport system wherein the media is held on the belt via vacuum pressure. The vacuum force is higher at the media acquisition location and is lower at the subsequent media transport and delivery stage. The vacuum pressure is provided by vacuum plenums located in the system causing vacuum pressure through holes in the belt throughout its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20130068593
    Abstract: The invention is related to a transport system for sheet material including a conveyor belt charged with a vacuum. The transport system includes a vacuum chamber providing the vacuum to charge the conveyor belt while moving along the vacuum chamber in a transport direction, wherein the conveyor belt is permeable to air by recesses having specified distances from each other, and air nozzles arranged at a deflection position inside the vacuum chamber. The specified distances from each other correlate with the distances of the recesses in the conveyor belt to allow pressurized air charged to the air nozzles to pass through the recesses in the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Andrey Galkin
  • Publication number: 20120292159
    Abstract: A transfer turret assembly is provided for transferring can bodies between process stations in a can necking machine. The transfer turret assembly includes a rotatable transfer starwheel. A plurality of pockets is formed in the starwheel that can each receive a can body. The turret assembly includes a vacuum assembly having a first zone that is under vacuum and a second zone separated from the first region by a boundary. The first zone vacuum retention force to vacuum ports formed in the pockets to retain the can bodies within the pockets. The boundary between the first zone and the second zone is adjustable to correspondingly adjust the vacuum retention force according to desired starwheel rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: DANIEL EGERTON
  • Publication number: 20120281051
    Abstract: A device for holding and carrying along a substrate to be printed on, for a printing machine, comprising: a conveyor (3) comprising an endless belt (8) formed by hollow box structures (9) extending transversely and having a flat outer face and comprising means for driving the belt and means (19a) for guiding the box structures. The flat outer faces (17) of the box structures circulate over a flat, longitudinal path (20) forming an upper flat surface (54) for holding the substrate to be printed on, the box structures having a plurality of external orifices in their outer face and at least one internal passage in their inner face opposite their outer face. A suction device (6) is able to engage with the internal passages in the box structures circulating over a longitudinal suction region (70) corresponding to at least a part of said flat, longitudinal path (20), so as to produce suction through said external orifices in the box structures circulating over said longitudinal suction region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: MACHINES DUBUIT
    Inventor: Eugène Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20120217136
    Abstract: A vacuum conveyor apparatus stabilizes multiple single file lanes of objects conveyed on a conveying surface of the apparatus by directing vacuum pressure through multiple slots beneath the conveying surface where the multiple slots are aligned with the multiple lanes of objects on the conveying surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Ouellette Machinery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Ouellette, Richard J. Ouellette
  • Publication number: 20120211332
    Abstract: A powered draw belt of a belt conveyor for conveying glass sheets has a main supporting surface, and is fitted with a suction retaining device for securing a glass sheet to the draw belt; the retaining device having at least one hollow body at least partly covering the main supporting surface; the hollow body defining a supporting surface for the glass sheet, and having at least one elastically deformable portion spaced apart from the main supporting surface to define, with the main supporting surface, a variable-volume chamber connectable to a suction source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Mario Balbi, Giorgio Bisol
  • Publication number: 20120211030
    Abstract: A vertical closed loop link chain vacuum conveyor is provided. A conveying frame extends along a lane-like longitudinal conveying path. The frame has a vertical and longitudinally offset closed loop section. The closed loop section has a change in elevation including a decline and an incline, change in direction, and a central vacuum plenum. A multi-flex link chain is in guided support and travel in the conveying frame while running in trained contact about a link chain drive assembly. The multi-flex link chain is in evacuated communication with a suction generator is in ducted communication with the vacuum plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: William D. Jones
  • Patent number: 8210339
    Abstract: A device and a method for sorting and stacking glass plates of different thicknesses and/or different formats over a divided transport line is described. The device and method are characterized by the following: 1) an aligning device which aligns the glass plates against a left and/or a right abutment strip by means of controllable rolls; 2) a stacking device which lowers the plates supplied by the aligning device and stacks them one above the other; 3) a connectable paper insertion device which lays paper from a store onto a plate; 4) an upright positioner which rotates the stacked plates by a right angle and aligns them on a vertical aligning device; 5) and a robot gripping arm which grips the glass plates aligned on the upright positioner and transports them away for further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Grenzebach Mashinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Strass
  • Publication number: 20120067701
    Abstract: In a vacuum conveyor belt for receiving, conveying and depositing planar objects, wherein the vacuum conveyor belt has a circulating drive (16), and a U-profile (3), wherein the U-profile (3) has a conveying passage and a return passage, and a conveyor belt (8), wherein the U-profile (3) on the return passage side includes a holder element (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: MONTECH AG
    Inventor: Christof Steffen
  • Publication number: 20120064250
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a transport unit for transporting a print support, or substrate, through a plant that deposits print tracks on a surface of the print support. The plant has at least one print station having at least one print head to deposit the print track onto the print support according to a predetermined pattern. The transport unit comprises a transport element having a transport surface facing, during use, toward the print head and on which the print support is disposed during processing. The transport surface comprises a portion covered with an adhesive surface layer upon which the print support is positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Applied Materials ITALIA S. R. L.
    Inventors: Andrea BACCINI, Thomas MICHELETTI, Marco GAJOTTO
  • Patent number: 8127915
    Abstract: A system for separating a cluster of interconnected food products is disclosed. The system includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a suction subsystem, and a sensor. The first conveyor includes a discharge end and a first permeable conveyor belt. The second conveyor, in series with the first conveyor, includes an intake end and a second permeable conveyor belt. The first and second conveyors are configured to independently accelerate and decelerate. The suction subsystem, which includes an intake portion proximate to the discharge end and the intake end, is configured, arranged and disposed to generate suction through the first permeable conveyor belt at a first region proximate to the discharge end and through the second permeable conveyor belt at a second region proximate to the intake end. The sensor is configured, arranged and disposed to sense a leading edge of the cluster as the cluster is conveyed by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest J. Alleman, Ray E. Martin, Roger L. Henneberger, Kevin J. Allen
  • Patent number: 8123023
    Abstract: A compliant conveyance system for processing mailpieces along a feed path, e.g., printing on a first surface of a mailpiece, while being registered against a contact surface of a registration plate. The conveyance system comprises at least one conveyor belt opposing the contact surface of the registration plate, a continuous, uninterrupted, compliant deck disposed beneath and supporting an underside surface of the conveyor belt, and a spring biasing device operative to bias the compliant deck and the conveyor belt toward the contact surface of the registration plate. The conveyor belt includes a drive surface for engaging a second surface of each of the mailpieces for conveyance along the feed path. As each of the mailpieces pass the registration plate, the compliant deck and spring biasing device urge the second surface of each mailpiece into engagement with the contact surface during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Williams, Russell W. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 8118154
    Abstract: A sod handling method and a sod handling apparatus, in one embodiment the sod handling apparatus uses a pressure differential to hold a sod slab during sod transfer, other embodiments include a sod lift member for lifting sod, a sod transport mechanism for moving sod; a sod carriage for transporting sod, a sod bed positioning system for stacking sod, a system and method for checking sod quality as well as an apparatus and method of machine stacking sod to maintain the integrity of a sod stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Trebro Holding, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Publication number: 20120034382
    Abstract: The present invention provides a support material (137) used to support a substrate (150) during processing. The support material (137) comprises a non-woven material comprising a top region and a bottom region, wherein the top region (420) is less resilient than the bottom region (410). The non-woven material also has a first surface (141A) adjacent to the top region, and a first end and a second end. In some embodiments, the bottom region comprises a synthetic fabric and the top region comprises a polymeric material. Other embodiments of the invention include an apparatus and methods for processing substrates in a screen printing chamber that can deliver a repeatable and accurate screen printed pattern on one or more processed substrates using a non- woven support material. In one embodiment, the screen printing chamber is adapted to perform a screen printing process within a portion of a crystalline silicon solar cell production line in which a substrate is patterned with a desired material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrea Baccini, Marco Galiazzo
  • Publication number: 20120012440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for transporting sheet-like products having an edge comprising a negative-pressure unit having a longitudinally running intake opening. Air can be taken in through the longitudinally running intake opening, wherein a row of the sheet-like products can be attached to the longitudinally running intake opening via their edges. The edges lie against said longitudinally running intake opening and extend transversely to the longitudinally running intake opening while being transported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Marcus Gasser, Wolfgang Pfeiffer, Mario Hirsch
  • Patent number: 8083462
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for placing battery plates in a line. This includes a pick up and release unit generally indicated at 16. The unit includes a central metal hollow body 17, which is divided into a number of side-by-side vacuum chambers, some of which have a perforate floor 19. A vacuum course 21 can be selectively connected to those, which have a perforate floor, whilst it is perpendicularly connected to a second set of chambers. Plates can be picked up from elevators 11 and 12 by use of the intermittent vacuum and then held against an endless belt 25 by the constant vacuum until they arrive at a release chamber, having a perforate floor, where upon interruption of the vacuum allows for release of the battery plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: TBS Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Christopher S. Barge
  • Patent number: 8079456
    Abstract: An automated spring detangler takes clumps of springs and whirls them around a rotating chamber. When they separate and fall to the bottom of the container, they are sucked into a delivery tube that continuously individually deposits them at an assembly line which may be remote from the detangler. Any non-separating clumps of springs are periodically ejected from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Lucien J. Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 8074790
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for an absorptive article having a waistband member, includes: transporting a continuum (for example, second to seventh continuum) including waistband regions 1A and 1B corresponding to the waistband member. In the transporting, the continuum is asymmetric with respect to a center line CL of the continuum in a moving direction of the continuum, and is transported while being held on at least a first belt conveyor 110 and a second belt conveyor 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110293346
    Abstract: The conveying device has contact portions that extend in a conveyance direction of the conveying belt and which contact with the same surface of the print medium that is attracted by suction to the conveying belt. This realizes a conveying device that assures a high quality printing. Even when a print medium with warped or undulated portions is fed, the conveying device can hold the print medium flat on the conveying belt and the ribs by suction through the suction holes in the conveying belt and through the platen, keeping the distance between the print head and the print medium constant, assuring a stable printing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANON FINETECH INC.
    Inventor: TAKEHIRO SATO
  • Publication number: 20110261185
    Abstract: A method and a system for stabilizing the sight line of a chip component being carried on two discs, for stabilizing delivery of the chip component between the two discs, and improving and stabilizing the inspection accuracy in the visual check of the chip component. This is achieved by employing a mechanism for carrying the chip component while supporting it on the horizontal plane of the first rotary disc and then carrying the chip component while suction-holding it on the vertical plane of the second rotary disc. When the chip component is carried on the first rotary disc, the upper surface and one side face of the chip component are imaged by first and second cameras. When the chip component is carried on the second rotary disc, the lower surface and the other side face of the chip component are imaged by third and fourth cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kobayashi, Toru Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20110253511
    Abstract: An apparatus and an associated method comprise a receiving zone, for receiving solid material, a transferring zone, for transferring said solid material and optionally a releasing zone for releasing said solid material, e.g. to another moving surface and with a moving endless surface moving in and through said zones, said a moving endless surface has thereto a multitude of primary cavities and secondary cavities receiving said solid material, wherein said primary cavities are connectable and/or connected to said vacuum system of said transferring zone, and said secondary cavities are not connectable/connected to said vacuum system of said transferring zone, and wherein thus only said primary cavities transfer said solid material e.g. to said further moving surface; and wherein typically both primary and secondary cavities are connectable/connected to a vacuum system in said receiving zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Hans Adolf Jackels
  • Patent number: 8033382
    Abstract: An electronic-component conveying apparatus that conveys an electronic component by holding the electronic component in a through hole provided in a conveying table of the apparatus, in which the electronic component can be quickly and reliably dismounted from the through hole by using compressed gas, and undesired popout of the electronic component due to a residual pressure infrequently occurs, whereby the efficiency in the conveying process can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sasaoka, Satoru Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8006826
    Abstract: The invention relates to a star wheel used for transporting articles in an arcuate path. The star wheel is provided with a vacuum apparatus to retain the articles within pockets of the star wheel as the wheel is rotated between a point where the articles are loaded onto the wheel and a point where they are removed. The hub of the star wheel functions as a plenum for low pressure, high flow vacuum, and short openings are provided between the plenum and the pockets. One of the walls of the hub is stationary and, at its periphery, it is positioned closed to but slightly spaced from the rim of the star wheel. A blocking surface is provided within the plenum spaced with a small gap from the inner end of some, but not all, of the short openings, so that vacuum is blocked from some positions of the pockets as they rotate. The apparatus avoids wear and friction, is able to transport irregular shaped articles, and is less costly to manufacture and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Crown Packagin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Anthony Licht
  • Patent number: 7987968
    Abstract: A method and a system for stabilizing the sight line of a chip component being carried on two discs, for stabilizing delivery of the chip component between the two discs, and improving and stabilizing the inspection accuracy in the visual check of the chip component. This is achieved by employing a mechanism for carrying the chip component while supporting it on the horizontal plane of the first rotary disc and then carrying the chip component while suction-holding it on the vertical plane of the second rotary disc. When the chip component is carried on the first rotary disc, the upper surface and one side face of the chip component are imaged by first and second cameras. When the chip component is carried on the second rotary disc, the lower surface and the other side face of the chip component are imaged by third and fourth cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kobayashi, Toru Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7987964
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring articles such as absorbent cores or disposable diaper chassis components from a rotary mechanism, such as a pad turner, to a linear mechanism, such as a conveyor, for further processing. A puck on the apparatus is capable of manipulating the article during this transfer procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. McCabe
  • Publication number: 20110139584
    Abstract: Provided are media vacuum transport systems including media vacuum transport members, methods of making media vacuum transport members, and method of transporting media. In accordance with various embodiments, there is a media vacuum transport system including a vacuum plenum one or more transport members configured to rotate around the vacuum plenum and wherein at least one of the one or more transport members can include a substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of holes extending from a first side proximate to the vacuum plenum to a second side opposite the first side, and a top coat layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the top coat layer can include a plurality of particles dispersed in a polymer blend to provide an average surface roughness Ra of about 2 ?m to about 100 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian P. GILMARTIN, Liang-Bih LIN
  • Publication number: 20110139581
    Abstract: In a conveyor (1) including an elastic conveying member (4), which is looped around at least a first rotation shaft (2) and a second rotation shaft (3), and rotates endlessly through drive of the first rotation shaft, the conveying device further includes: transmitting means (5) for transmitting the drive of the first rotation shaft (2) to the second rotation shaft (3) so that the first rotation shaft (2) and the second rotation shaft (3) are synchronized with each other. Provide are a conveyor and a conveying device which are capable of allowing a movement amount of the first rotation shaft and a movement amount of the conveyance object to be accurately followed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Umezawa, Takao Arai, Kazuhiro Sei
  • Publication number: 20110139586
    Abstract: Provided are media vacuum transport systems including media vacuum transport members, methods of making media vacuum transport members, and method of transporting media. In accordance with various embodiments, there is a media vacuum transport system including a vacuum plenum one or more transport members configured to rotate around the vacuum plenum and wherein at least one of the one or more transport members can include a substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of holes extending from a first side proximate to the vacuum plenum to a second side proximate to the media, and a top coat layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the top coat layer can include a plurality of particles dispersed in a resin to provide an average surface roughness Ra of about 2 ?m to about 100 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Liang-Bih LIN, Brian P. GILMARTIN, Ruddy CASTILLO, Elias PANIDES, James L. GIACOBBI, Linn C. HOOVER, Gary A. BATT
  • Patent number: 7958988
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a guiding member that has a contact portion that comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface of a conveying belt in which a plurality of suction holes is formed, and an endless conveying belt that has ridges to hold a recording medium lest the recording medium come into contact with the suction holes. A plurality of slits is formed in the contact portion to attract the recording medium to the endless conveying belt through the suction holes. The slits are formed to prevent the conveying belt from falling in the slits when the conveying belt is pressed due to suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Satoru Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7942254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for conveying strips of corrugated cardboard, the device comprising a work table for conveying strips on the work table along a direction of conveyance, wherein the work table is supported on a floor and comprises at least one longitudinal groove for accommodating an element which is displaceable therein, and at least one slide which is disposed underneath the work table and is actuable for displacement in the direction of conveyance, which slide comprises an element which is actuable for upward extension through the at least one longitudinal groove for cooperation with the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: BHS Corrugated Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Schell
  • Patent number: 7922174
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a vacuum belt having belt edges and a contact surface between the belt edges. The contact surface is adapted to contact sheets of print media and the sheets of print media have sheet edges and a central sheet region. The contact surface has a central belt region located where the central sheet region of the sheets of print media contacts the contact surface of the vacuum belt. The contact surface has border regions located where the sheet edges of the sheets of print media contact the contact surface of the vacuum belt. The central belt region is located between the border regions. The contact surface has vacuum holes, and the vacuum holes comprise an irregular pattern, such that a different density of holes is located within the border regions relative to the central belt region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Elias Panides, Ruddy Castillo
  • Patent number: 7918328
    Abstract: A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles, such as bottles, includes a plurality of machines arranged in a machine arrangement. At least one of the machines includes an apparatus configured to modify the articles by at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping the articles as they pass from an article infeed to an article discharge of the machine arrangement. A recirculation mechanism moves articles from a downstream machine after a first pass (or run) and recirculates the articles back to an upstream machine in a second (recirculation) pass (or run) so that the articles, which are recirculated through the second pass are again subjected to a different machine modifying operation in at least one machine that the articles have previously passed in the first pass. The articles move continuously through the first and second passes while being subjected to at least one machine modifying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Schill, Harold James Marshall
  • Publication number: 20110061999
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-contact type vacuum pad which is used for holding articles in a vacuum conveying system. The vacuum pad of the present invention comprises a main body, an air guide, and a discharge pathway formed by means of the main body and guide. The air guide is attached in such a way that it does not project from the bottom edge of the main body, and it has: a central inflow recess communicating with a supply hole; one or more flow pathways formed passing through the wall surface from the inflow recess; and a suction hole which extends from the bottom surface and connects to be flow pathway(s). When compressed air passes through the flow pathway(s), the outside air underneath the vacuum pad passes the vicinity of a diffusing surface and through the suction hole and is entrained into the compressed air, and merges with and is discharged together with the compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Ho-Young Cho
  • Patent number: 7905195
    Abstract: The present invention provides a floating-type substrate conveying and processing apparatus that floats a substrate to be processed. The device includes a floating stage that floats the substrate, a liquid supplier placed above the floating stage via the substrate to supply a process liquid to a surface of the substrate, and a moving mechanism for holding the substrate as detachable at opposite ends of the substrate, at a floating height of the substrate, and for moving the substrate on the floating stage. The floating stage is formed of a porous member and has a plurality of suction apertures airtightly defined in a porous portion of the porous member. The floating stage injects gas through the porous portion and sucks gas through the suction apertures to float the substrate placed on the porous portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Toshifumi Inamasu, Kenya Shinozaki, Kimio Motoda
  • Publication number: 20110056804
    Abstract: A system for conveying an article along a transfer path includes at least a first and a second vortex suction unit disposed in sequence in a direction of the transfer path. A conveyor is configured to support the article relative to at least one of the suction units and a main controller is configured to separately control the vortex suction units so as to convey the article along the transfer path using the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: BDT AG
    Inventors: Peter Xavier Kearney, Andreas Wardak
  • Patent number: 7900920
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a plurality of linear motor mechanisms for transporting a plurality of tables in a first transport section including at least an area in which an image is recorded on recording media, and an endless transport mechanism for transporting the plurality of tables in at least a second transport section contiguous with the first transport section and capable of transporting the plurality of tables in the first transport section. The image recording apparatus further includes an unused linear motor mechanism determination part for determining an unused linear motor mechanism. When the unused linear motor mechanism is determined, the endless transport mechanism is used as an alternative to transport at least one of the tables which is to be transported in the first transport section but which is able to be transported by none of the plurality of linear motor mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen MFG. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sakai, Shoji Kakimoto
  • Patent number: 7886894
    Abstract: A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles, such as bottles, includes a plurality of machines arranged in a machine arrangement. At least one of the machines includes an apparatus configured to modify the articles by at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping the articles as they pass from an article infeed to an article discharge of the machine arrangement. A recirculation mechanism moves articles from a downstream machine after a first pass (or run) and recirculate the articles back to an upstream machine in a second (recirculation) pass (or run) so that the articles, which are recirculated through the second pass are again subjected to a different machine modifying operation in at least one machine that the articles have previously passed in the first pass. The articles move continuously through the first and second passes while being subjected to at least one machine modifying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Schill, Harold James Marshall
  • Publication number: 20110016739
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting substrates. The apparatus being characterized by a removeable and positionally reversible control unit, to permit use of the apparatus as a bi-directional conveyor. The apparatus has a perforated transport belt, supported by a slotted deck, both of which allow passage of air downwardly through the belt. Dryer mounts on the apparatus are designed to allow tool-free adjustment of the dryer height for various types of sheet-like media. Further, an adjustable clip-on catch tray is easily changeable to accommodate the outfeed of various types of media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Gary L. Beck, Troy M. York
  • Patent number: 7857121
    Abstract: A system and method for conveying and for accurately handling a generally flat object employing a plurality of support elements. The system comprises: a plurality of vacuum preload drive wheels arranged in one or more drive units, each drive unit comprising at least one vacuum preload drive wheel; one or more vacuum ports located on one or more counter plates adjacent each of the vacuum preload drive wheels, for applying induced holding down forces on the object. The vacuum ports of each drive unit are fluidically connected to a main vacuum pipe with controllable valve to a vacuum source. When the main vacuum pipe is connected to a vacuum source the normal force between the object and the vacuum preload drive wheels is increased and accordingly the lateral drive force is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Coreflow Scientific Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuval Yassour
  • Patent number: 7857122
    Abstract: A vacuum conveyance/manifold system is provided for processing mailpieces. The vacuum conveyance/manifold system includes at least one conveyor belt and a compliant deck disposed beneath and supporting an underside surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has rows of aligned apertures disposed therein and a drive surface for engaging a face surface of each of the mailpieces. The compliant deck defines a neutral axis in bending and has a high elongation, low modulus material in a portion of the deck which is distal from the bending neutral axis, and a high yield strength, high modulus material in a portion of the deck which lies coincident with the bending neutral axis. Furthermore, the compliant deck has a plurality of elongate slots formed in the high elongation, low modulus material, which elongate slots are aligned, and in fluid communication, with the rows of apertures in the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Williams, Russell W. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 7854429
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing an apparatus capable of transferring a sheet while reducing wear and using a relatively small driving force. The present invention is also directed to providing an apparatus capable of effectively obtaining a vacuum suction force with a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Isowa
    Inventor: Etsuro Abe
  • Patent number: 7837027
    Abstract: An electronic component conveying apparatus is provided in which an electronic component is accommodated in a through-hole of a conveyer table and is conveyed. The electronic component can be reliably picked up from the through-hole using a compressed gas in a short time. In addition, undesired exhaust of the electronic component due to a residual compressed air can be prevented, and the conveying efficiency can be increased. In an workpiece conveying apparatus, a first surface of a conveyer table includes a pressure relief groove that extends from a location at which the pressure relief groove overlaps with an exhaust hole in a direction crossing a conveying direction and communicates with a suction recess portion when the conveyer table is rotationally driven. Alternatively, the first surface includes a pressure relief hole for relieving pressure to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Takeuchi, Yoshikazu Sasaoka
  • Patent number: 7832547
    Abstract: It relates to an equipment to transport and move material which transfer products in bulk into one by one; it receivers a certain amount of pieces (1) and delivers one by one to the next industrial process. This equipment transfers products from a belt conveyor (2) to a weighing system (8) of products on a constant flow; it comprises a rotating cylinder (5) with holes (9) on the cylindrical surface which suck the pieces (1) one by one discharging them in a sequence over a weighing and grading system (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Scanvaegt International A/S
    Inventor: Orlei da Silva Choai