...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177047 | Adaptable assembly fixture apparatus An apparatus for transporting a first workpiece assembly, the apparatus includes a pallet, a universal fixture and an adaptable fixture. The pallet has a rectangular base and support members fixed to opposite edges of the base. The universal fixture has a frame, a f... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8083049 | Motorized backstop A backstop for stopping the movement of a product as it comes off a conveyor of a manufacturing line includes a motor connected by a linkage to a longitudinally moveable strike plate. The motor applies force to the strike plate in accordance with a predetermined cur... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7938246 | Stop module, in particular for automatic machining and conveyor systems A stop module has a base body, a stop element configured for objects moving in a direction of motion in a movement plane and located on the base body, a drive device for moving the stop element between a first terminal position, in which the stop element protrudes i... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7607530 | Transfer conveyor A transfer conveyor which prevents collisions between works to be conveyed when the works to be conveyed or stored are carried on a conveyer track by a work support having a length shorter than the length of works to be conveyed, which permits reverse traveling duri... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7559419 | Abutment module An abutment module, in particular for automatic processing and conveying systems, comprising an abutment member arranged on a main unit for objects moving in a plane of motion in a current working movement direction, such abutment member being able to be shifted by ... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7513355 | Abutment module An abutment module, in particular for automatic processing and conveying systems, comprises an abutment member arranged on a main unit for objects moving in a plane of motion in a current working movement direction, such abutment member being able to be shifted by o... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7490710 | Flexible manufacturing system having modular work stations A flexible manufacturing system utilizing modular work stations configured to provide asynchronous operations on a plurality of work pieces mounted on fixtures or pallets that are transported through the system by means of a conveyor or rail arrangement. The pallets... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7380648 | Workpiece carrier and anti-backlash mechanism therefor An anti-backlash mechanism is provided for use in an assembly line including a conveyor transporting a plurality of pucks. The anti-backlash mechanism comprises a supporting structure adapted for being mounted adjacent the conveyor. A finger is mounted on the suppor... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7380649 | Pallet stop for pallet load transport system A pallet stop generally comprises a support frame, an internal enclosure, a rotating actuator, a pivoting stop, and a counterweight assembly. The rotating actuator has an upper arm portion that extends just above the surface of the enclosure. The enclosure is receiv... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7360645 | Modular-conveyor-belt-based apparatus and method for the distribution of components which are disposed in strips A system (1, 6) for the distribution of components which are disposed in strips (8), using conveyor belts (12) in order to transfer components (8) to a point at which they can be grabbed by the head of a pick-and-place machine. The system... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7311192 | Systems and methods for providing an improved timing conveyor Methods and apparatus for a conveyor system for evenly spacing conveyed objects are provided. In one embodiment, the conveyor system includes a conveyor belt that includes a conveyor having cavities, rollers in some of cavities, and a positioning component. The conv... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7303063 | Sequential stepped movement staging device A sequential stepped movement staging device comprises six legs 70 of equal length extending radially from a central sphere 46 in an X-Y-Z orthogonal relationship. The sphere 46 and legs 70 are held in a horizontally fixed position relati... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7299911 | Abutment module An abutment module, more especially for automatic processing and conveying equipment, comprises an abutment member arranged on a base for objects moving in a current working direction of movement in a plane of motion, such abutment member being able, by means of a f... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7284651 | Conveyor system and method of conveying elements The method of conveying elements on a conveyor system of this invention includes conveying an element on a first continuously moving conveyor in a first direction at a first height, then lifting the element from the first conveyor upwardly to a second height and sim... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7264106 | Positioning device and conveyor system with the positioning device The positioning device for positioning a movable conveyed goods carrier on a conveyor track in a clamped position includes a stop device (12); a movement device for a positioning movement and a drive (20) for driving the movement device. The movement d... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7255220 | Conveyance system A conveyance system, wherein dividable horizontal conveyance units are connected to each other through joint plates and a support post and rails of the horizontal conveyance units are connected to each other without any step and clearance. A joint conveyance carnage... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7249666 | Retractable stop assembly A power operated retractable stop assembly includes a body, a drive arm, and a stop arm. The drive arm is pivotable between a pre-locked position and an unlocked position. There is a locked position between the pre-locked position and the unlocked position. The stop... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7243895 | Damping and mounting structure for a motor A damping and mounting structure for a motor includes a bracket to which a motor is mounted, the bracket being provided with a plurality of through-holes; a housing having a driven element which is driven by the motor on the bracket; a plurality of threaded holes an... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7243776 | Loading and extraction of modular belt carriers of electronic components Replaceable component carriers (40) are adapted to be freely floating in belt apertures (74) and have alignment features (160), such as conical holes (170), mated to features (162), such as tapered pins (184), in processing ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7232025 | Electromagnetic conveyor stop A conveyor stop assembly for stopping objects traveling along a conveying path includes a magnetically attractable stop member pivotally mounted for movement out of the conveying path when contacted by an object traveling along the conveying path and an electromagne... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7232027 | Pallet/skid power roll system An apparatus moves a plurality of transport media along a path of travel. The plurality of transport media define at least two groups of transport media, where each group of transport media has substantially identical transverse dimensions with respect to one anothe... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7219787 | Device and method for conveying and holding plate-like member In a component mounting work area, two electronic circuit boards are placed in a zigzag manner and components are mounted independently on each board. Two sets of working drive units, board conveying/holding devices, recognition cameras and so forth are also arrange... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210889 | Circulating storage system A circulating storage system (1) has at least two storage columns (4) of stored-goods carriers (5) that are arranged one above another and circulate during operation, at least one horizontal conveyor device (9) which, during operation, tr... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7208938 | Test tray for handler A test tray includes a rectangular shaped frame and a plurality of transport modules to receive a plurality of semiconductor devices. A precise location-determining unit mounted on both sides of the frame to precisely determines and fixes the test tray location. Acc... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7204400 | Method for glass separation for flat panel displays A method and apparatus for separating glass panels that minimizes process failures and improves separation process consistency by utilizing a separation handle which applies the minimal pressure necessary to remove the edge portion from the glass panel. The glass pa... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7197810 | Transport system In a transport system for flow line production, especially in the car manufacturing industry, workpieces are movable along at least two first guides between working stations in transportation direction. At least one working station is configured as a screwing and/or... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7191891 | Device for moving products with selective drive engagement Device for moving products from a loading station to an unloading station. Carriers on which containers for the products are arranged move along a guide in the direction of transport. The drive is implemented with the aid of a toothed belt and each carrier is provid... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7171874 | Handle collecting structure for socket wrench A socket storage arrangement for a socket wrench includes a handle having an accommodating chamber formed therein. A pending platform includes a semi-cylindrical long rod seat body which is removably insertable into the accommodating chamber. The seat body is formed... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7162320 | Assembly line quality control Disclosed herein is a method of controlling an assembly line, comprising the steps of providing an article assembly line; designating, on the assembly line, an upstream processing station and a downstream processing station; delivering a first article to the upstrea... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7156224 | Circulating mechanism, and method of operating such a circulating mechanism A circulating mechanism includes a moving member, e.g. a chain or a belt, which travels along a circulating path and is looped about at least one deflecting member for reversing a travel direction of the moving member. Disposed in a section of the circulating path i... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7146705 | Manufacturing cell using tooling apparatus A manufacturing cell having a plurality of work stations, where at least one of the work station comprises a metalworking machine, and where at least one metalworking machine is provided with a modular tooling apparatus. The modular tooling apparatus consists of a b... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7141213 | Automated sample processing system A system for a clinical lab that is capable of automatically processing, including sorting, of multiple specimen containers. The system comprises a central controller, a workstation, one or more analyzers, and an automated centrifuge. The workstation has automatic d... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7131523 | Transport system, in particular an airport luggage transport system A transport system, in particular an airport luggage transport system, and guide means for a transport system of this type, for transporting individual items, are disclosed. The items are transported along a transport path with at least one straight section, with su... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7128196 | Flexible automotive assembly line method An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassemb... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7114607 | Method for operating a vertical accumulating conveyor system A preferred embodiment of a method for operating a vertical accumulating conveyor system is disclosed. The method includes loading of a workpiece onto a pallet assembly of a conveyor system. The workpiece may be either loaded manually or automatically using a roboti... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7111721 | Stop apparatus for conveyor systems A pallet stop apparatus for interrupting the motion of a pallet or other item along a conveyor system includes a stop head having both an open arm depending and a stop arm depending therefrom and a front surface for engaging a pallet. The apparatus also includes a s... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7093537 | Bale ejection arrangement for large square baler A baler having a baling chamber of rectangular cross section includes a bale ejection arrangement that is mounted adjacent a bottom wall of a rear section of the baling chamber. The bale ejection arrangement comprises a plurality of transversely spaced, upper and lo... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7093457 | Annular cooler pallet construction A pallet construction for an annular cooler forms a gas permeable surface for supporting and transporting material during processing thereof. The pallet construction includes a pallet deck having a series of substantially parallel rows of spaced apart elongated slot... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7069647 | Method for populating a substrate with electronic components A novel method and placement system are configured for populating a substrate with an electronic component. The placement system has a substrate holding device for receiving the substrate, a wafer holding device above the substrate holding device serving for receivi... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7065862 | Apparatus for tightening fixing band and constant velocity universal joint apparatus A fixing band-tightening apparatus comprises a holding section for gripping a shaft section at both ends in an axial direction, the holding section being provided rotatably in a circumferential direction in accordance with a driving action of a rotary driving source... | 06/27/2006 |