Patent abstracts

Citation

(2005), "Patent abstracts", Industrial Robot, Vol. 32 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2005.04932ead.006

Patent abstracts

Title: Multiple independent robot assembly and apparatus for processing and transferring semiconductor wafersApplicant: McClintock William (US);Lowrance Robert B (US); Grunes Howard (US)Patent number: US2003180139Publication date: 25 September 2003

Keywords: Patents, Assembly, Robotics, Semiconductors

A robot assembly including multiple independently operable robot assemblies are provided for use in semiconductor wafer processing. The robot assembly includes independent co-axial upper and lower robot assemblies adapted to handle multiple objects. The upper robot is stacked above the lower robot and the two robots are mounted concentrically to allow fast wafer transfer. Concentric drive mechanisms may also be provided for imparting rotary motion to either rotate the robot assembly or extend an extendable arm assembly into an adjacent chamber. Each robot can be either a single blade robot or a dual blade robot. Also provided is an apparatus for processing semiconductor wafers comprising a pre/post process transfer chamber housing multiple independent robot assemblies and surrounded by a plurality of pre-process chambers and post process chambers. Within each process, pre-process and post- process chamber is an apparatus for holding a plurality of stacked wafers. The apparatus includes a wafer lifting and storing apparatus exhibiting a plurality of vertically movable lift pins surrounding the chamber pedestal. The lift pins are configured to receive and hold a plurality of stacked wafers, preferably two, therein.

Title: Device for Assembling, Tuning, and testing motor vehiclesApplicant: Duerr AG (DE); Mogck Gerhard (DE); De Moliere Frederic (DE);Thomer Klaus Werner (DE);Tentrup Thomas (DE)Patent number: WO2004052715Publication date: 24 June 2004

Keywords: Patents, Assembly, Automotive industry

The invention relates to a device for assembling, tuning, and testing motor vehicles. Automobile factories are provided with assembly lines, along which components are delivered to an automobile that is to be produced, are assembled, and further processed by humans or robots as required. The automobiles that are to be produced are continuously moved on wheels at the end of the assembly lines by means of chain-driven, rope-driven, or belt- driven apron conveyors which can be embedded in the floor and entrain the left, right, or all wheels of the automobile. The automobile rolls on the two other wheels if only one apron conveyor is used. The aim of the invention is to create a device for assembling motor vehicles, which can be mounted anywhere in a flat hall without modifying the ceiling or floor and can be transported. Said aim is achieved by the fact that the inventive device can be assembled from individual transportable, modular, interconnectable components which can be mounted on a flat surface without using pits or creating floor load. Said device encompasses the conveying mechanisms and assembly units for the motor vehicles that are to be assembled.

Title: Flexible agricultural automationApplicant: Hanley Brian P (US)Patent number: US6671582Publication date: 30 December 2003

Keywords: Patents, Agricultural equipment, Manufacturing

Agricultural operations by applying flexible manufacturing software, robotics and sensing techniques to agriculture. In manufacturing operations utilizing flexible machining and flexible assembly robots, work pieces flow through a fixed set of workstations on an assembly line. At different stations are located machine vision systems, laser-based raster devices, radar, touch, photocell, and other methods of sensing; flexible robot armatures and the like are used to operate on them. This flexible agricultural automation turns that concept inside out, moving software programmable workstations through farm fields on mobile robots that can sense their environment and respond to it flexibly. The agricultural automation will make it possible for large scale farming to take up labour intensive farming practices which are currently only practical for small scale farming, improving land utilization efficiency, while lowering manpower costs dramatically.

Title: Robotic assembly process for plastic componentsApplicant: ABB INC (CA)Patent number: CA2391761Publication date: 25 April 2003

Keywords Patents, Robotics, Assembly

A method of robotic assembly, for manufacturing plastic components from parts mounted upon a plastic shell, using an integrated system of material handling and robots following a programmed series of operations. The robot cells carry out the following steps:

1. 1.

   Scanning the pallet and identifying that the pallet is locked in the docked position of the cell.

2. 2.

   Scanning an assembly area of the shell and communicating location and planarity data to the robot of the cell.

3. 3.

   Selecting a plastic part from a part supply device with the robot.

4. 4.

   Welding the part to the assembly surface of the plastic shell using the robot to perform a spin or fusion welding process. The spin welding process includes: engaging a mounting surface of the part with the assembly surface of the shell; rotating the part until the mounting and assembly surfaces are heated; and applying pressure to the part sufficient to fuse the mounting and assembly surfaces together. The fusion welding includes: simultaneously heating the mounting and assembly surfaces with heaters; and applying pressure to the part sufficient to fuse the mounting and assembly surfaces together.

5. 5.

   Determining the performance status of the foregoing cell steps and identifying the status as: good; scrap or rework. Good status results in conveyance of the loaded pallet for processing at any succeeding cell, but rework and scrap status result in conveyance of the loaded pallet to the unload station without processing at any succeeding cell.