Abstract: A hinge assembly with continuous seal, includes a hinge shaft, a fixed hinge part and a rotatable hinge part, a fixed frame part and a rotatable frame part, which respectively comprises a parallel profile element and a seal that is affixed continuously to the profile element of the rotatable frame part and configured so that it bridges the distance between the two profile elements in the closed position.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly suitable for use in a substrate processing system includes: at least one substrate carrier having a substrate-carrying surface configured to support at least one substrate; a processing track; a return track; a drive system configured to drive the substrate carrier along the processing track and the return track; and at least one swivel unit configured to pivot the substrate carrier around a substantially horizontal axis from a first orientation into a second orientation, and/or vice versa. Also provided is a method for conveying a substrate carrier including: providing a substrate carrier; positioning the substrate carrier in a first orientation; conveying the substrate carrier along a first track; and rotating the substrate carrier around a substantially horizontal axis into a second orientation.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for centering a substrate in a process chamber. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a substrate support having a support surface adapted to receive the placement of a substrate and a reference axis substantially perpendicular to the support surface, and a plurality of centering members extending above the support surface. Each centering member is biased into a first position and is movable to a second position by interacting with an opposing member. A movement between the first position and the second position thereby causes each centering member to releasably engage with a peripheral edge of the substrate to push the substrate in a direction toward the reference axis.

Abstract: A method for putting a glass plate to a target position includes (a) putting the glass plate at a preliminary position above an air table that discharges air upwardly, by moving a suction member that supports the glass plate through suction; (b) releasing suction of the suction member, while air is discharged upwardly from the air table, thereby floating the glass plate at the preliminary position above the air table; and (c) moving a pressing member in a horizontal direction, while the pressing member is in abutment with a top surface of the glass plate and while air is discharged upwardly from the air table, thereby moving the glass plate in the horizontal direction from the preliminary position above the air table to the target position above the air table by a frictional force generated between the pressing member and the glass plate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ensuring the proper handling of reticles in the manufacturing of microdevices are disclosed. The methods and apparatus employ one or more reticle stop blocks fixed to a reticle handling arm. The one or more reticle stop blocks are designed and arranged to engage an edge of the reticle in order to place the reticle in a desired position on the reticle handling arm should the reticle be improperly arranged in a cassette in which the reticle is stored. By ensuring proper placement of the reticle on the reticle handling arm when the reticle is removed from the cassette, the likelihood of a subsequent fault in handling the reticle is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate centering mechanism includes a plurality of substrate support pins, each pin having a top surface. The top surfaces of the pins define a plane in which the substrate is supported. Each pin has a tab mounted eccentrically at the top surface of the pin. The tabs extend upwardly relative to the top surfaces of the pins. The centering mechanism further includes a pin rotation mechanism adapted to rotate each pin. The pin rotation mechanism rotates the pins between a first position in which the tabs define an envelope that is larger than a circumference of the substrate and a second position in which the tabs define a centered position for the substrate. A telescoping arrangement of nesting shield segments may also be provided for each pin to prevent processing fluid from reaching a shaft of the pin.

Abstract: A tilting platform for roll testing automotive vehicles rotates the automotive vehicle so that data can be collected to determine various roll characteristics of the vehicle. The tilting platform includes a support platform that is pivotally attached to a floor hoist. A pivot pin is positioned away from the midpoint of the support platform so that a distal end of the support platform rotates downward and a proximal end rotates upward when the floor hoist is raised.

Abstract: An apparatus for bundling truss plates comprises a mechanism for forming a plurality of truss plates and a mechanism for forming these truss plates into a unitized bundle that is easily shipped, stored, and handled. The apparatus can include a mechanism for orienting each of the plurality of truss plates so that the backing members are substantially parallel to a predetermined plane, an aligning mechanism for aligning the oriented truss plates so that the peripheries of their backing members are substantially aligned, a stacking mechanism for stacking the oriented and aligned truss plates, and an interconnecting mechanism for interconnecting the stacked truss plates into a unitized bundle.

Abstract: An armature shaft having a cam body extending from one end thereof is inserted into a shaft-receiving transfer block of an armature lamination and shaft assembly machine so that the cam body has a desired angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation of the armature shaft. A stack of laminations with which the shaft is assembled is rotationally oriented using a rotatable support for the lamination stack and a pair of proximity detectors which sense the position of missing portions of one or more of the laminations.

Abstract: An armature shaft having a cam body extending from one end thereof is inserted into a shaft-receiving transfer block of an armature lamination and shaft assembly machine so that the cam body has a desired angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation of the armature shaft. A stack of laminations with which the shaft is assembled is also angularly oriented.

Abstract: An armature shaft having a cam body extending from one end thereof is inserted into a shaft-receiving transfer block of an armature lamination and shaft assembly machine so that the cam body has a desired angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation of the armature shaft. A stack of laminations with which the shaft is assembled is also angularly oriented.

Abstract: A chuck unit for automatically inserting a workpiece in a receiving portion, which comprises a fixed pawl, first and second movable pawls and a pusher. Both major surfaces of the workpiece are chucked by a first vertical surface of the fixed pawl and the first movable pawl, and both side edges of the workpiece are chucked by a second vertical surface of the fixed pawl being perpendicular to the first vertical surface and the second movable pawl. The pusher is vertically movable between the first vertical surface and the first movable pawl for downwardly extruding the workpiece. Since two major surfaces and two side edges of the workpiece are held by the pawls, the attitude and position of the workpiece are corrected therein. Therefore, this chuck unit is suitable for assembling a plurality of workpieces which are arranged in a thickness direction thereof in an aligned manner.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin mirror (10) includes the step of supporting the thin mirror (10) on an air cushion (12) while a rigid support structure (16) is interfaced therewith. The disclosed method avoids the introduction of stresses and strains during the fabrication process.

Abstract: A device (10) for positioning a glass sheet or other generally rigid planar object (G), having a roller bed table (12) for supporting the object in a horizontal plane and an overhead device (14) carrying a first set of spaced apart arms (26, 28, 30, 32), each of which has a vertically acting cylinder (70) near a free end thereof, and a second set of spaced apart arms (20, 22, 24) near a free end thereof, each of which has a horizontally acting cylinder (48) near the free end thereof. Each vertically acting cylinder has a sheet edge contacting element (74) at the free end of its cylinder rod (72), and these edge contacting elements act as fixed stops during the positioning of the object. Each horizontally acting cylinder has a sheet edge contacting element (52) of the free end of its cylinder rod (50), and these edge contacting elements act as movable stops during the positioning of the object.

Abstract: A bottle handling device comprising a tool for grasping the sides of the bottles, the tool being tiltably mounted to one end of a flexible cord and the other end of the cord is coupled to a balancing device for balancing the grasping tool and developing a balancing force that is adjustable between two values depending on whether the tool is loaded or unloaded. The device also has a support table for supporting a plurality of bottles standing in a row, and a backing piece mounted along the table in order to accommodate the tilting of the bottles while the value of the balance force is changing.

Abstract: A machine for inserting DIP components. A DIP component slides down a chute and onto a mandrel. A thruster advances to thrust the component against a stop which is secured to the mandrel. The precisely located component is gripped and the mandrel is retracted, whereupon component insertion takes place.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of orienting a cylinder with an oblique end such that the slant of same faces a preferred direction. To this end, a special fixture is used which includes a central axial bore having a cylindrical surface which engages in bearing-like fashion with the oblique-ended cylinder. On opposite sides of the bore, are a magnet for imposing a magnetic field across the bore and across therefrom a dowel pin stop. The magnetic field acts to rotate the oblique-ended cylinder about the common axis of the bore and cylinder into a generally preferred position wherefrom the oblique-ended cylinder can come to its final resting position against the dowel pin stop.

Abstract: A part positioning apparatus is provided for accurately positioning and angularly orienting a variety of different parts or components for pick-up by a robotic part handling device. The apparatus includes a bowl-like part receptacle which is subjected to a vibratory force so that a part placed on a concave interior surface of the receptacle slides thereover, under the influence of gravity, and assumes an equilibrium position in a designated area of a horizontal plane thereby positioning the part with respect to X and Y axes. Thereafter the receptacle is rotated about a vertical axis to angularly orient the part in a desired direction.

Abstract: An overhead case positioner for inverting upended cases, including a detector for sensing the presence of an upended case moving along a conveyor, a first stop for retarding movement of the upended case, a second stop for retarding movement of the succeeding case, a third stop spaced downstream of the first for engaging the upended case after it has been released by the first stop and an inverter mechanism for pivoting an upended case in abutment with the third stop forwardly over the third stop.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for handling a component having a body and one or more members protruding therefrom, such that the protruding members are put in proper, mating registration with corresponding holes of a substrate or the like. The components are handled during transport and insertion by gripping of the bodies thereof, and the method and apparatus of the invention compensates for any offset in X, Y, and .theta. between the profile of the body and a particular pattern or location of the protruding members relative to the profile of the body.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for separating, orienting and positioning axes including at least one operational flat. The device includes a static chute equipped with a wide bottom opening closed by a drawer which is moved with a back and forth motion from a withdrawn position in which it unveils a narrow opening which is large enough to enable the fall of a single axis onto rolling blades which are extended by descending ramps bringing each axis onto two bearing-sliding blades. The bearing sliding blades cooperate with two push plates, as well as a trap borne by the drawer, to produce the roll of the axis in the desired direction, followed by the slide of that axis without rotation to a selected position.

Abstract: A device is described for orienting intravenous needles or other similar articles having relatively long shank portions which terminates in bevelled or flat tips. The device has a fixture for supporting the needles at an angle to the horizontal and with the bevelled tip resting on a knife edge. A vibrator is coupled to the needle supporting fixture causing the needle to turn to its most stable position on the knife edge where the flat portion engages the knife edge.

Abstract: A stacking machine and method for pairing and stacking metal plates having teeth struck out and protruding therefrom, which plates are commonly referred to as nail plates. The nail plates that are to be stacked are supplied to a supply section of the machine in streams of longitudinally extending metal plates as the plates exit from a stamping machine. It is in the stamping machine that the teeth forming the nails of the plates are struck out from the plates. These nail plates are supplied to a stacking section of the stacking machine two plate lengths at a time. The stacking section receives the pair of metal plates, which also can be two plate sections with each section being formed of several plates, in a longitudinally extending relationship from the supply section and then reorientates the two metal plates so that the two plates are in a face-to-face orientation. The pairs of plates are then transferred to a stack receiving section.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rotating elongated workpieces on a support bed to present successive faces for inspection and/or treatment of the workpiece. Safe means are provided for rotating hot or cold billets on a support bed in a manner that uses a minimum of manpower while handling pieces of considerable length and weight.

Abstract: Coke oven door overturning apparatus of this invention provides lateral turning and leveling of a door laid down to be repaired, checked or otherwise treated. The apparatus comprises an electric winch for effecting up and down movement of the door turning apparatus of this invention provides lateral turning and leveling of a door laid down to be repaired, checked or otherwise treated. The apparatus comprises an electric winch for effecting up and down movement of the door through a wire cable leading to a door holding frame, a lifting device for leveling the door in the laid down condition, and a lateral turning device capable of rotating the door by 360 degrees in order that the door may be faced in any desired direction for treatment.

Abstract: A workpiece having an enlarged head and a stem extending therefrom is conveyed in a gravity chute while supported vertically in a ring-shaped pallet with the head supported on the top side of the pallet and the stem extending downwardly through the pallet. The pallet and workpiece are then directed through a downwardly curved orienting chute and come to rest on stop surfaces wherein the workpiece is inclined downwardly, its head foremost, and the axis of the pallet is horizontal. In this position the workpiece is centered with respect to the aperture in the pallet so that the workpiece slides downwardly out of the pallet through an unloading chute. At the lower end of the unloading chute the workpiece falls through a contoured aperture into a downwardly inclined delivery chute which extends in the direction opposite to the unloading chute.

Abstract: Apparatus functioning in combination with a crop bale forming machine to receive an ejected bale of crop material moving along a predetermined path of travel from a bale outlet in a crop bale forming machine and, via conveying means, turn it a predetermined angle about a vertical axis from the predetermined path of travel prior to the bale's assuming a position of rest on the ground.