Material or article handling inventions 06/08

20080152464 - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for fabricating three dimensional integrated circuits: The present invention pertains to methods, apparatuses, and systems for fabricating three-dimensional integrated circuits. One embodiment of the method comprises providing a wafer or other substrate having a plurality of through holes. In addition, the method includes supporting the wafer or other substrate with a wafer or other substrate holder... Agent: Larry Williams

20080152463 - Wafer processing system with dual wafer robots capable of asynchronous motion: A robot assembly for transferring substrates includes a central tube assembly oriented along a central axis, perpendicular to a substrate transfer plane, and having an inner surface that forms part of a first enclosure at a first pressure, and an outer surface that forms part of a second enclosure at... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20080152465 - Transportation apparatus and tension adjustment method of belt in the same: In a first linkage, base ends of a pair of first links which have the same length with each other are pivotably coupled to a fixed table through a pair of first coupling shafts, and tip ends of the first links are pivotably coupled to a pair of first intermediate... Agent: Akerman Senterfitt

20080152466 - Loader and buffer for reduced lot size: A system comprising a load port and a transfer module. In one embodiment, the load port includes a plate having a first opening and a second opening, a first workpiece access port, a second workpiece access port and at least one storage location. The storage location(s) may be located either... Agent: Martine Penilla & Gencarella, LLP

20080152467 - Cableway installation with a garage for transportation devices: Transportation devices of an aerial cableway, such as gondolas or chairs, are stored in a storage region, which includes at least one storage rail. By way of a conveyor device the transportation devices are conveyed from the endless cableway region of an aerial cableway station to the storage region and... Agent: Lerner Greenberg Stemer LLP

20080152468 - System, method and apparatus for space-efficient container storage: An application for an efficient storage system includes containers having a top, bottom, walls and an access door. The containers are moveably organized within a building that organized as a grid of rows and columns, each row wider than the width of each of the containers and each column deeper... Agent: Larson And Larson

20080152469 - Utility carryall for utility, skid steer and industrial tractors: The UTILITY CARRYALL provides a dependable lift and transport support for farms, ranches and other industries. The UTILITY CARRYALL can be coupled to the hydraulic front loader or rear hydraulic 3point hitch on utility tractors. The UTILITY CARRYALL can also be coupled on the front loaders of utility skid steer... Agent: Elwood Bates

20080152470 - Apparatus having a lifting apparatus: A lifting apparatus includes at least one carrying means that is mounted on a compensation bearing unit and that is for receiving and/or delivering a polymer melt, and in particular a tacky polymer melt.... Agent: Posz Law Group, Plc

20080152471 - Method and assembly for shifting the fork cradle of a forklift truck laterally and for tilting it longitudinally: The invention relates to an assembly formed by the hoisting cradle (4) and the fork cradle (2) of a forklift truck (1), in which the fork cradle (2) consists of two vertical beams (11, 12) and two horizontal beams (9, 10), the beams (9, 10, 11, 12) forming a substantially... Agent: Ware Fressola Van Der Sluys & Adolphson, LLP

20080152472 - Gripper: An apparatus for transporting objects may include a plurality of grippers having a first spacing at a first position and second spacing at a second position. A drive mechanism may be provided is for selectively displacing the grippers from the first position to the second position to adjust the spacing... Agent: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

20080152473 - Apparatus and method for handling humid products: The present invention concerns an apparatus for handling humid products. The apparatus includes a thermal face (1) with a cooled area (9) over at least a part of the face (1). At least one release element (2) is connected to the apparatus and includes at least one release shear. The... Agent: Ladas & Parry LLP

20080152474 - Method for positioning a wafer: The invention relates to a method for positioning a wafer (3) with a reference mark (6) in a vacuum processing unit with a transport chamber containing a transport device (2, 20, 21) for moving the wafers (3) in a plane to a process chamber arranged on said chamber and a... Agent: Notaro And Michalos

20080145188 - Picking apparatus for an electronic device: Picking apparatus for handling an electronic device having an elongate dipole antenna includes: a support body having an open slot defined by guide fingers; and an antenna positioning means such as a magnet positioned to move the antenna into the slot and holding the antenna within the slot in an... Agent: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Intellectual Property Department 823

20080145189 - Pole handling apparatus: Pole or mast handling apparatus adapted for mounting on a loader type vehicle, such as a tractor mounted loader or skid steer type loader having one or more booms movable between reclined position and an elevated position, the booms including a support member mounted at a distal end and positionable... Agent: Ip Section, Steven E. Ross Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP

20080145190 - Non-contact thermal platforms: A thermal treatment system comprising at least one apparatus for thermally treating an object, the apparatus comprising: one platform or two substantially opposite platforms, where at least one of the platforms has at least one thermal means for heating or cooling of the object; and at least one of the... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20080145191 - Actively chilled substrate transport module: A substrate transport module adapted to transport a substrate in a processing chamber of a semiconductor processing apparatus. The substrate transport module includes a substrate cooling surface and a plurality of coolant channels disposed in the substrate transport module and in thermal communication with the substrate cooling surface. The substrate... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080145192 - Semiconductor manufacturing process modules: A variety of process modules are described for use in semiconductor manufacturing processes.... Agent: Strategic Patents P.c..

20080145193 - Vacuum processing apparatus: A vacuum processing apparatus includes a transfer unit disposed at a center thereof, plural processing chambers, each processing chamber having a processing table for supporting an object to be processed and carrying out processing using a gas, and a mass flow controller unit interposed between two of the processing chambers... Agent: Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP

20080145194 - Sensor arrangements for wafer center finding: A number of wafer center finding methods and systems are disclosed herein that improve upon existing techniques used in semiconductor manufacturing.... Agent: Strategic Patents P.c..

20080145195 - Transfer system for transporting work pieces in a press: A transfer system (100) for transporting work pieces in a press (1), comprises a transfer rail (150) having a plurality of grippers (152) for gripping the work pieces, a linear mechanism (110) attachable to a press frame (2) of the press (1) for linearly moving the transfer rail (150) with... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080145196 - Space-saving multi-level garage: The present invention teaches a space-saving multi-level garage, comprising: a passage frame, which permits the vehicles to pass normally; a garage group fixedly installed on the passage frame, which has a multi-storey structure, each storey comprising at least two garage units for the parking of vehicles; a longitudinal lifter, which... Agent: Matthias Scholl

20080145197 - Roller rack: A boltless roller rack is provided having upright corner support posts and one or more shelves. At least one shelf comprises front and rear cross-beams and at least one roller section. The front and rear cross-beams extend between and are secured to the front and rear corner support posts respectively.... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20080145198 - Liner connecting device and liner filling device: A liner emptying device and a liner filling device as well as methods using them for contamination-free filling and emptying of a liner. This contamination-free filling and emptying prevents any danger to the health of the people working with the packaged substances. Both the liner emptying device and the liner... Agent: Roberts, Mlotkowski & Hobbes

20080145199 - Lift assist system for manufacture of linked food products: A lift assist assembly (20, 20a) is provided to facilitate transfer of individual segments (24) of linked food products (e.g., hot dogs) between a first location such as a linker output (40) to a second, spaced location such as a smokehouse delivery rail assembly (30). The assembly (20) includes an... Agent: Hovey Williams LLP

20080145200 - Rear eject body for off-highway haulage units: A rear eject body for a truck is provided. The body includes a floor and a pair of opposing sidewalls. A tailgate extends between the opposing sidewalls at a rear end of the rear eject body. The tailgate is pivotally supported for movement between an open position and a closed... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20080145201 - Adjustable fixed roller cartridge system: A liftgate platform assembly may include a roller assembly having a pair of roller cartridge assemblies that are attached within a channel on opposite sides of a rail member. One roller cartridge assembly may be considered a fixed roller assembly because it does not move relative to the rail member... Agent: Brouse Mcdowell Lpa

20080145202 - Apparatus and method for separating differing vertically oriented containers: This invention discloses an apparatus for separating differing vertically orientated containers 11, 12, particularly for use in manufacturing operations. The apparatus includes at least one pair of parallel guides 10 substantially aligned in a direction of travel of the containers 11, 12. The pair of guides 10 are operatively positioned... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080145203 - Method of transferring test trays in a handler: Provided is a method for transferring test trays in a handler including a second chamber having two test sites arranged in parallel, a first chamber having a plurality of passages along which a plurality of test trays are horizontally moved, provided over the second chamber, and a third chamber having... Agent: Ked & Associates, LLP

20080138174 - Pick-up and lay-down system and method: A self supporting pick-up and lay-down pipe handling system and method provides apparatuses and methods including a telescopingly extendable pipe trough which is telescopingly extendable from a lift frame, a lift frame movable by extendable lifts, and a movable lift frame with a conveyor system. The lift frame is preferably... Agent: The Matthews Firm

20080138176 - Apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device: The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes vacuum wafer transfer modules disposed in a line so as to correspond to stages, a loadlock chamber module transferring wafers in vacuum, first process chambers disposed around the vacuum wafer transfer modules so as to process... Agent: Grant J. Scott Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovee, P.a.

20080138175 - High throughput wafer notch aligner: An ion implantation apparatus, system, and method are provided for a transferring a plurality of workpieces between vacuum and atmospheric pressures, wherein an alignment mechanism is operable to align a plurality of workpieces for generally simultaneous transportation to a dual-workpiece load lock chamber. The alignment mechanism comprises a characterization device,... Agent: Eschweiler & Associates, Llc National City Bank Building

20080138177 - Load lock and method for transferring objects: A load lock is constructed and arranged to transfer a substrate between a first environment and a second environment and to maintain each of the first environment and the second environment therein. The load lock includes a load lock chamber provided with at least two mutually distinct substrate supports positioned... Agent: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

20080138178 - High throughput serial wafer handling end station: An ion implantation apparatus, system, and method are provided for transferring a plurality of workpieces between vacuum and atmospheric pressures, wherein an alignment mechanism is operable to align a plurality of workpieces for generally simultaneous transportation to a dual-workpiece load lock chamber. The alignment mechanism comprises a characterization device, an... Agent: Eschweiler & Associates, Llc National City Bank Building

20080138179 - Method and apparatus for a cleanspace fabricator: A fab can be constructed as a round or rectangular annular tube with a primary cleanspace located in-between its inner and outer tubes. The fab can be encircled with levels upon which tools can be densely packed while preserving unidirectional air flow. If only tool ports are inside, and robotics... Agent: Joseph P Kincart

20080138180 - Vacuum processing apparatus and semiconductor manufacturing line using the same: A vacuum processing apparatus is composed of a cassette block and a vacuum processing block. The cassette block has a cassette table for mounting a plurality of cassettes containing a sample and an atmospheric transfer means. The vacuum processing block has a plurality of processing chambers for performing vacuum processing... Agent: Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP

20080138181 - Thermally conductive pump motor mount for liftgate system: A conductive heat transfer system may include a heat conductive element to thermally couple the pump motor of a liftgate assembly to an outer surface of a pump motor housing assembly.... Agent: Brouse Mcdowell Lpa

20080138182 - Mobile cargo loader with a thermal curtain enclosure: An apparatus for controlling the environment of an internal airplane space during loading and unloading of cargo, a cargo tent for use in such transfers and a method of transfer. A collapsible cargo tent is located on a cargo transfer platform at one end of a mobile cargo lift. The... Agent: Law Office Of Charles W. Peterson, Jr. -- Boeing

20080138183 - Lift structure: A lift includes a connecting rod secured to a vehicle, an upright guide rod connected to the connecting rod, a lifting rod, a power source, and a platform; the guide rod has a lowermost sloping side; the lifting rod includes a holding part pivoted to the guide rod, and a... Agent: Rosenberg, Klein & Lee

20080138184 - Automatic machine for loading pipette tips into a rack and a loading method thereof: The present invention provides an automatic loading machine adapted to load laboratory pipette racks with pipette's tips. The loading is performed by vibrations. The automatic loading machine comprises (a) collecting means adapted to contain said pipette tips; (b) orientating means in communication with said collecting means; said orientating means comprising... Agent: Fleit Kain Gibbons Gutman Bongini & Bianco

20080138185 - System and method for feeding fuel cell stack: A system for feeding a fuel cell stack including fuel cells having separating plates and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). The system includes a separating plate supply unit for feeding the separating plates; an MEA supply unit for feeding the MEAs; a feeding unit on which the separating plates and the... Agent: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (sf)

20080138186 - Article transport facility: An article transport facility includes an article transporting mobile body; an article support for storing an article, the article support being configured to be moved between an article transfer position and an article storage position; an operating device provided on the mobile body for shifting the article support between the... Agent: The Webb Law Firm, P.c.

20080138187 - Method for handling a blister in a blister packaging machine and device for carrying out said method: During operation of a blister in a blister packaging machine, the blister is grasped by a relocating device at a supply position and disposed at a deposition location of a continuous conveying device which is driven in cycles, wherein several blisters are stacked at the deposition location during one cycle... Agent: Patentanwaelte Lichti + Partner Gbr

20080138188 - Device for stacking mail items: Together with a device for receiving mail items that has a conveyor belt designed to receive and to convey the mail items from a franking station of a mail handling machine, a device is provided for stacking mail items that has a plurality of rollers disposed in staggered manner on... Agent: Sughrue Mion, Pllc

20080131234 - Overload safety apparatus for robot hand: The invention provides an overload safety apparatus for a robot hand in which a safety apparatus for an overload is simplified in structure, and which is reduced in size, weight and cost by a method of magnetically attracting a robot hand and supporting the same by a shaft, so that... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.l.p.

20080131235 - Mechanical reclaim systems with aeration and methods for use: A reclaiming system for use with bulk material includes a storage structure, an elongated mechanical reclaimer, and an aeration system for delivering a pressurized gas into bulk material located within the storage structure. The storage structure comprising a floor having a perimeter wall upstanding therefrom, the floor and perimeter wall... Agent: Workman Nydegger

20080131236 - Method and device for determining the degree of filling of a container with filled envelopes: A system and method for determining the degree of filling of a container with filled envelopes is described including dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the filled envelopes of a plurality of filled envelopes before it is loaded into the container and evaluating the degree of filling of... Agent: Pitney Bowes Inc. 35 Waterview Drive

20080131237 - Batch wafer alignment: Modular wafer transport and handling facilities are combined in a variety of ways deliver greater levels of flexibility, utility, efficiency, and functionality in a vacuum semiconductor processing system. Various processing and other modules may be interconnected with tunnel-and-cart transportation systems to extend the distance and versatility of the vacuum environment.... Agent: Strategic Patents P.c..

20080131238 - Particle-reducing load lock seal: Modular wafer transport and handling facilities are combined in a variety of ways deliver greater levels of flexibility, utility, efficiency, and functionality in a vacuum semiconductor processing system. Various processing and other modules may be interconnected with tunnel-and-cart transportation systems to extend the distance and versatility of the vacuum environment.... Agent: Strategic Patents P.c..

20080131239 - Integrated gripper for workpiece transfer: An integrated grip arm for transfer reticles and carrier boxes is disclosed for improving throughput, yield and reliability of transport equipment. The integrated grip arm comprises a plurality of grippers to accommodate a plurality of reticles and carrier boxes without the need of separate arm or gripper changes. The integrated... Agent: Tue Nguyen

20080131240 - Freeze dryer: A freeze dryer comprises a chamber having a rectangular slot through which vials are inserted into the chamber. An assembly for loading and/or unloading the chamber comprises a transfer bar extending across the slot. The bar is pivotally attached at each end to first and second flat springs, each spring... Agent: The Boc Group, Inc.

20080131241 - Mobile picker, storage structure and storage system: f

20080131242 - Grain bin discharge guard and power sweep: An apparatus adapted to be rotatably mounted proximate a discharge opening of a grain bin can include a guard. The guard can have a plurality of knife units having a plurality of spaced apart blades having grain engaging cutting edges for cutting and breaking up compacted grain. A sweep portion... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080131243 - Cargo area of an airport: The invention relates to the cargo area of an airport, having transporting paths which connect the land side and the air side of the airport and are intended for the standard loading units (ULDs), and also having interim stores for the buffer storage of the loading units prior to the... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080131244 - System, method and machine for continuous loading of a product: An apparatus, machine and method for continuous unloading and loading of an object includes an unloading station with in-feed device, frame and transport device disposed thereon that moves an object between a unload end and a load end of the in-feed device. A robotic transfer means is positioned at the... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20080131245 - Trailer ramp system: A ramp member is pivotally supported at the rear of a flat bed trailer for pivotal movement between a loading position extending from the flat bed to the ground and a storage position supported on the trailer bed, through an intermediate position between the loading position and the storage position.... Agent: Ade & Company Inc.

20080131246 - Removable tire caddy and method of use: A removable tire caddy and method of use for providing convenient access and manipulation of a vehicle-mounted spare tire. The removable tire caddy includes a unitary carriage designed to support a tire on its frame and at least one wheel coupled to the frame. In the center of the carriage... Agent: Trask Britt

20080131247 - Vehicle mounted winch assembly with powered sliding cable guide: Disclosed is a vehicle mounted winch and cable assembly that may include a slide track, a winch, a cable guide and a powering means. Also disclosed is a related method. The slide track may be rigidly mounted to the vehicle and may have a track axis extending generally perpendicular to... Agent: Michael P. Mazza, Llc

20080131249 - Article transport facility: An article transport facility includes an article transporting mobile body configured to move along a path and having an article holder; an article support for storing an article, the article support is configured to be moved between an article transfer position and an article storage position; a lock device provided... Agent: The Webb Law Firm, P.c.

20080131248 - Center of gravity sensing and adjusting load bar, program product, and related methods: An apparatus, program product, and related methods for gravity stabilizing a suspended load are provided. The apparatus includes an center of gravity stabilized automated adjusting load bar in communication with a mobile cart which allows an operator to enable automated stabilization of a load. The adjusting load bar includes redundant... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20080131250 - End hose for discharge of thick substances: The invention relates to an end hose for discharge of thick substances, particularly of liquid concrete. The end hose (12) can be connected with its entry-side end to a pressure feed line (14) of a mobile thick-matter pump, and has a discharge opening (16) for the thick substances at its... Agent: Collard & Roe, P.c.

20080131251 - Apparatus for conveying and storing articles: An apparatus for conveying and storing articles comprises an inlet/outlet slot, a plurality of storage spaces stacked vertically and transversely, and a movable bucket for conveying an article from the inlet/outlet slot to one of the storage spaces and conveying an article from one of the storage spaces to the... Agent: Baker Botts LLP C/o Intellectual Property Department

20080131252 - Electronic level indicator for a loader bucket: A work machine includes a machine frame, a loader and an electronic level indicator. The loader includes a loader frame coupled with the machine frame, a pair of booms pivotally carried by the loader frame, and a bucket pivotally carried at a forward end of the booms. An electronic level... Agent: Taylor & Aust, P.c.

20080131253 - End of arm tool, apparatus, and method of engaging an article: Described herein are various implementations of an end of arm tool, apparatus, and method.... Agent: Lee & Hayes, Pllc

20080131254 - Apparatus, method and system for handling, positioning, and/or automatically orienting objects: A method and apparatus for automatic positioning and/or orientation of an object. The method includes applying a substance or component to an object, or takes advantage of a substance or component already on or associated with an object. The substance or component has a characteristic that can be utilized to... Agent: Mckee, Voorhees & Sease, P.L.C Attn: Pioneer Hi-bred

20080131255 - Palletizing systems and methods: Palletizing systems and methods increasing the efficiency at which pallets of mixed products are built. The systems and methods include a pallet building module for receiving customer orders and generating pallet building instructions for arranging the products on the pallets, among other functions. The pallet building module is in communication... Agent: Adams Intellectual Property Law, P.a.

20080131256 - Method and apparatus for separating rod-shaped bodies: In order to separate rod-shaped bodies from a bundle of bodies, the surface of an uppermost body in the bundle is determined in a separation apparatus by a sensor, which body is then seized laterally of the sensor by a first gripper and is vertically lifted, whereupon a further gripper... Agent: Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.a.

20080131257 - System and method for reducing collateral transport-induced damage during microstructure processing: By providing a safety material, such as an adhesive foil, the probability for transport-related damage or destruction of substrates caused by broken substrates may be significantly reduced.... Agent: Williams, Morgan & Amerson