Material or article handling inventions

20090279987 - Pipe handling unit: A pipe handling unit particularly adaptable for use in association with slant wells includes a pipe manipulation mechanism mounted to a mobile pipe storage rack, which when sited adjacent to a drilling rig or service rig can transport pipe sections to or from the rig mast regardless of the angular... Agent: Donald V. Tomkins C/o Tomkins Law Office

20090279988 - Method and loader apparatus for tem machine work chamber device: A loader assembly for a TEM machine having a retractable arm that is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. A hoop portion of the retractable arm also moves between the retracted position and the extended position. A lower closure for holding a part to be processed in... Agent: Kennametal Inc. Intellectual Property Department

20090279989 - Dynamic alignment of wafers using compensation values obtained through a series of wafer movements: Methods and systems to optimize wafer placement repeatability in semiconductor manufacturing equipment using a controlled series of wafer movements are provided. In one embodiment, a preliminary station calibration is performed to teach a robot position for each station interfaced to facets of a vacuum transfer module used in semiconductor manufacturing.... Agent: Martine Penilla & Gencarella, LLP

20090279990 - Tools and methods for mounting transport rails in a substrate processing system: Devices and methods for mounting and aligning transport rails to a processing chamber of a substrate processing system are described. An alignment feature is built-in to the transport rail and a corresponding alignment feature is added to the valves separating processing chambers. The alignment feature may be a pin-groove arrangement.... Agent: Nixon Peabody, LLP

20090279991 - Processing tool and method for transferring a component from a ready position into a processing position: In order to ensure reliable feeding in particular of a clinch nut (M) from a ready position (16) into a processing position, the processing tool designed as a press-in tool (2) has a guide element (14), through which the clinch nut (M) is pressed into the processing position by means... Agent: Lerner Greenberg Stemer LLP

20090279992 - Friction drive material handling system including composite beam and method of operating same: A material handling system includes a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members. A trolley includes an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels. The lower set of wheels is received within two parallel channels... Agent: Caterpillar C/o Liell, Mcneil & Harper Intellectual Property Department

20090279993 - Magnetic cover remover: A cover removal apparatus includes a frame, an electromagnet and a power source, which is electrically coupled to the electromagnet for selectively energizing the electromagnet. The removal apparatus may further include means for positioning the electromagnet relative to a cover and/or means for loosening the cover.... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20090279994 - Fork assembly lift mechanism: A fork assembly lift mechanism is disclosed that is configurable for use in a material handling vehicle for moving a fork assembly, including a fork trail assembly, between a lowered position and a raised position. The fork assembly lift mechanism comprises a master cylinder coupled to a truck body and... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20090279995 - Chip pickup apparatus, chip pickup method, chip releasing device and chip releasing method: In the pickup apparatus wherein a chip 6 adhered on a sheet 5 is sucked and held by a picking nozzle 20 and then picked up by the nozzle, a sheet push-up member 24 configured by forming flexible elastic material such as rubber in a spherical shape is attached on... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20090279996 - Crucible lift device and method for taking-out crucible: A crucible lift device for taking a crucible out of a mold is provided with a lid member which closely contacts a limb portion defining an opening of a crucible; a decompressing mechanism which decompresses an internal space of the crucible sealed with the lid member; and a vertically-moving mechanism... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20090279997 - Method and apparatus for removing workpieces from the bottom of a stack of workpieces: A method and apparatus for removing the lowest workpiece from a stack of a plurality of substantially similar workpieces. A horizontal shuttle has a lip on its edge, and is driven in one direction to remove the lip from a void beneath the stack, thereby permitting the stack to fall.... Agent: Kremblas, Foster, Phillips & Pollick

20090280000 - High tonnage trailer combination, trailer components, and method of use: A trailer combination and trailer components are designed to provide dual functionality in terms of hauling a very high tonnage piece of heavy equipment and the ability to continue to haul more typical pieces of heavy equipment. To accomplish this task, a trailer auxiliary is provided that is adapted to... Agent: Clark & Brody

20090279999 - Mixed size product handling end of arm tool: A mixed size product end of arm tooling is used in conjunction with a robot to pick mixed size product and place the product onto a pallet or layers resting on top of a pallet. The end of arm tooling includes two center rails/forks mounted to a base. Two outer... Agent: Fraser Clemens Martin & Miller LLC

20090279998 - Vibration isolator for container and the like, and method of using the same: A vibration isolator for container, and the like, and a method of using the same which are applicable to general containers, and allow the loaded articles to be protected against vibration at the time of transportation, and the like, with the cost being held to a minimum. It is a... Agent: Kubotera & Associates, LLC

20090280001 - Unit and method for transferring substrates and apparatus and method for treating substrates with the unit: The present invention is related to a method for transferring substrates. The method comprise simultaneously transferring two substrates, by means of a transfer unit, between first support plates disposed to be vertically spaced apart from each other and second support plates arranged abreast in a lateral direction. The transfer unit... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20090274537 - Suspension apparatus and exposure apparatus: A suspension apparatus includes a linking component which is used to suspend and support an object. The linking component has a first member which is connected to the object, and a second member which is linked to the first member, and the first member and the second member are linked... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20090274538 - Receptacle assembly for transporting multi-size beverage containers: A receptacle assembly for receiving and holding in place flexible containers in the upright position while the flexible containers are being transported on a conveyor. The receptacle assembly includes a guide supporting two supports, an adjustment mechanism, and a plurality of transport receptacles. Each transport receptacle includes two side supports,... Agent: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

20090274539 - Load sweep: After a forklift loaded with material lowers its forks onto a truck's overhead rack system, the forklift draws away, forcing the material against the Load Sweep. This force is transferred through the Load Sweep into the stationary overhead rack system attached to the vehicle. The forks then withdraw, allowing the... Agent: Jared Elliott Bockoff

20090274540 - Filament drive mechanism for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems: A filament drive mechanism comprising a rotatable component comprising a central hole defined at least in part by an internally-threaded surface, and is configured to receive a filament strand through the central hole to engage the internally-threaded surface with the filament strand. The filament drive mechanism further comprises at least... Agent: Westman Champlin & Kelly, P.A.

20090274541 - Safety cone placing device and method: Automatic placement of safety cones from a moving vehicle is provided. The preferred safety cone would have a flexible cone part. A receptacle holds a plurality of safety cones either with the flexible cone part in non-compressed position or in spring-loaded position. The receptacle is removably attached to the vehicle.... Agent: Lumen Patent Firm

20090274542 - Automotive vehicle having a power-actuated ramp: An automotive vehicle having a power-actuated ramp including a vehicle body having a roof, front portion and a rear portion. The vehicle body further includes opposed side portions and a floor that cooperate with the roof, front portion and rear portion to define a passenger area. The vehicle body further... Agent: Bliss Mcglynn, P.C.

20090274543 - Tool manipulator especially for onshore and offshore drilling platforms: A manipulator apparatus carries tools for connecting drillpipes to the drillstring in a wellbore on a drilling platform. A telescopically extendable horizontal work arm is carried on a telescopically extendable vertical column, and the tools are to be mounted on a free end of the work arm. The column is... Agent: Fasse Patent Attorneys, P.A.

20090274544 - Apparatus and methods for wedge lock prevention: In one embodiment, a tubular handling apparatus is provided with a wedge lock release mechanism that creates a clearance to allow movement by the mandrel having mating wedge surfaces relative to the tubular to release the wedge slips. In another embodiment, a tubular handling apparatus for handling a tubular includes... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, L.L.P.

20090274545 - Tubular handling apparatus: In one embodiment, a tubular gripping assembly for use with a top drive to handle a tubular includes a tubular gripping tool having a mandrel and gripping elements operatively coupled to the mandrel; and a link assembly attached to the mandrel, wherein a load of the link assembly is transferred... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, L.L.P.

20090274546 - Hay bale accumulating method and device: A bale accumulator and method in which a plurality of hay bales can be accumulated and arranged into a cluster of ten bales (a “ten stack”). The accumulator first collects a bale in each of two angled bale receivers at the rear of the accumulator. These remain in position as... Agent: Wiley Horton

20090263214 - Fixture for p-through silicon via assembly: A silicon-based wafer such as a TSV interposer wafer having a first and second surfaces wherein a glass carrier is mounted on the second surface by a UV tape is held by a vacuum holder applied on the first surface and the glass carrier is removed from the silicon-based wafer... Agent: Duane Morris LLP (tsmc)IPDepartment

20090263215 - End effector for a cluster tool: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus and method for transferring substrates in a processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, improved device yield performance, a more repeatable wafer processing history (or wafer history), and a reduced footprint when compared... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, LLP - - Appm/tx

20090263216 - Method and device for removing pollution from a confined environment: b

20090263217 - Testing device to test plates for electronic circuits and relative method: A testing device to test a plate for electronic circuits, comprising transport members able to transport the plate along an axis of feed (Y), at least from an entrance station to a testing station defining a testing plane (P′), and testing members, disposed in correspondence with the testing station. The... Agent: Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C.

20090263218 - Plate material conveying device: The present invention provides a plate material conveying device including a compact traveling member to enable an increase in plate material conveyance speed and a reduction in time required for acceleration and deceleration and to allow small plate materials to be more efficiently conveyed, the plate material conveying device further... Agent: Westerman, Hattori, Daniels & Adrian, LLP

20090263219 - Handheld apparatus for disengagement of a dose unit from its packaging: The present invention concerns a handheld apparatus for automated and directional disengagement of a dose unit (17), such as a pill from its packaging (16), said apparatus comprising a housing (2) having a first and second end, where the housing is provided with an opening for receiving and supporting a... Agent: Weingarten, Schurgin, Gagnebin & Lebovici LLP

20090263220 - Motorcycle carriers: A deployable set of nested ramp segments supporting a motorcycle thereon are sequentially extended or pulled in across the door edge in a carrier vehicle by sets of springs that oppose the spooling collection of a belt wound on a powered spool. Once partly extended by the springs to bring... Agent: I. Michael Bak-boychuk Attorney At Law

20090263221 - Apparatus for loading/unloading drill pipe: A device for assisting in the loading and off-loading of oil well tubulars from a trailer comprising a frame, a bottom side and a top side defining a bed. The bed comprises a front and a back defining a longitudinal axis. A bin retaining the tubulars may be formed by... Agent: Klein, Denatale, Goldner, Cooper Et. Al.

20090263222 - Side recovery system for a vehicle: A recovery vehicle having a side recovery system is disclosed. The side recovery system includes a boom having a first end and a second end. The boom is rotatable about the first end between a first position and second position. The side recovery system also includes a base having a... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20090263223 - Grain bag unloader: A grain bag unloader is described for unloading grain from a grain bag wherein the unloader is moved rearwardly and operated by a tractor having a hitch, a hydraulic system and a PTO. The grain bag unloader includes a wheeled frame having a grain hopper at the rearward end thereof... Agent: Thomte Law Office, L.L.C.

20090263224 - Clamping apparatus: A clamping apparatus includes a frame and a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release a load. In one embodiment, each clamping arm is guided for movement with respect to the frame by an adjustable bushing... Agent: Michael Tobias

20090263225 - Integrated wedge lock arrangement: A hydraulically operated wedge lock system is disclosed to provide a releasable mechanical lock between relatively movable telescoping boom segments. Each wedge lock mechanism includes a backing wedge block connected to a relatively stationary boom segment It defines an angled smooth surface. A stationary shaft is supported generally parallel to... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20090263226 - Systems and methods to produce and sequence a plurality of different books: Systems and methods are described to produce and sequence a plurality of different books. An example system includes a plurality of signature feeders to deliver signatures to stations along a conveyor to simultaneously produce and sequence a plurality of different books in a first predetermined order to co-mail, wherein each... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090263227 - Blocking slide unit of a feed and sorting device for packaging machines: A feed and sorting device for tablets has a number of vertically extending filling tubes for tablets, and a blocking slide unit for temporarily blocking the guiding channels of the filling tubes. The blocking slide unit includes a base plate with through-openings for the filling tubes and a plurality of... Agent: Jansson Shupe & Munger Ltd.

20090263228 - Merchandise pallet: A pallet for use in transporting merchandise includes a pallet body having a top surface for supporting merchandise. A foot-driven winch is mounted on the pallet body, and a flexible tie-down for restraining merchandise on the pallet body is connected to the winch. In a preferred method of using the... Agent: Michael Tobias

20090263229 - Infeed station and stack gripper of a palletizing system and method for transferring stacks from an infeed station to a stack gripper: An infeed station has a carriage that is supported on a machine frame of the infeed station in a way that allows it to be moved laterally and a stack conveyor mounted on the carriage for conveying stacks from an infeed position to a transfer position, from which the stacks... Agent: Friedrich Kueffner

20090263230 - Cluster apparatus for processing substrate and method for processing substrate using cluster apparatus: A cluster apparatus for processing a substrate includes a load-lock chamber to receive a substrate, a transfer chamber adjacent to the load-lock chamber, one or more processing chambers each having a side facing the transfer chamber, and a robot in the transfer chamber to unload the substrate from or load... Agent: Ked & Associates, LLP

20090263231 - Bundling system for long products: A system for bundling long ferrous products comprises a roller table for delivering the products longitudinally to a receiving station. A cradle is spaced laterally from the receiving station and is constructed and arranged to receive and accumulate the products in bundle form. A stacker is positioned between the receiving... Agent: Siemens Corporation